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NZMTA NEWS MEMBERSHIP NEEDS TO INCREASE BY JEREMY WARD, PRESIDENT OF THE NZMTA B y now, most of our members present will have enjoyed the vessel operators' seminar held on September 14. These types of MTA two-day seminars are held three times a year and are proving to be extremely popular and informative for our larger fleet members, and also increasingly for our smaller operators. In essence this is what the MTA is about. Such seminars offer a forum for members to get together, network and discuss topical industry issues and, as a consequence, confirm what they would like to see the MTA doing to further their interests. As always, we have been fortunate that such seminars have always been supported by Maritime New Zealand, with their team attending and on hand to give us the latest Maritime NZ direction straight from the horse's mouth. I can't reiterate highly enough how important and beneficial this close relationship and association is to the interests of our members. To have a regular forum with our industry regulator to discuss past, present and future issues is invaluable and hence we must encourage it at all levels. Both organisations share a similar vision for safety in our industry, but we are always cognisant of the effect regulations and decisions can have on our members' businesses. If we aren't "close to the coal face" as an industry, we have little chance of suggesting and recommending sensible changes to regulations and legislation before they are instigated. Hence, my vision for 2012 is to enhance that relationship and move our industry forward in partnership with Maritime NZ. To do that effectively, as always, we ask for your active participation as a member of our association. This year we are again striving for a wide and growing membership base as there has been no growth in the last year, despite our best initiatives. The MTA has been surviving by the support of our larger members, for which we are most grateful. But our strength and viability, and to a certain extent our credibility, will only come if we have a growing membership base. To be frank, that is what Maritime NZ would like to see, as then when they are communicating with us, they know they are communicating with the body that represents the majority of the commercial inshore fleet. Over the last few years we have become increasingly aware that one of the biggest barriers to joining the MTA is the cost for smaller operators. Although some may say the cost for a small boat operator is minimal, other "part time" participants still think twice in these difficult economic times. So the association's dilemma is that we need to move to a more International Paint A global company providing coatings and service to the marine industry within New Zealand and throughout the world "affordable for all" fee structure, while at the same time significantly cutting our expense base, because financially we have had two years of losses and we cannot continue on the path we are on. So changes will, of necessity, have to be made. The good news is there is a way forward and we have presented a "change plan" remit to the incoming 2012 committee. Members will be kept informed through our newsletter and website, so watch this space. Moving back to industry matters, we are very much in the process of change here, too. By the time you read this, hopefully we are all fully informed of the final structure for the introduction of the Marine Operator Safety System, or MOSS. With any luck we will even have a concrete implementation date, reported to be early 2013. The changes proposed over the present safe ship management system have caused some members stress over the last year or so, but I believe most are now embracing MOSS and can see the benefits which will accrue from the simplification and administration of the system. One of the final pieces in the jigsaw is where, who and how the auditing and surveyors' functions will be carried out and I trust by now we are all fully informed. The other imminent significant change pending for the industry is the Qualifications and Operational Limits Review. Again, implementing the changes has been postponed to 2013, but the structure is now all but completed and again we hope Maritime NZ has now informed us of the final composition. VIP.PS43 For information on our range of Marine and Protective coatings, phone 0800 808 807 or visit www.international-marine.com International Paint 686 Rosebank Rd, Avondale, Auckland 58 Professional Skipper November/December 2011 There are some sensible changes proposed, together with the simplification of a myriad of qualifications, and this should make clearly defined paths of moving through higher qualifications and hopefully in time encourage new entrants to embark on a marine career. These changes are way overdue and are welcomed by our professional mariners, so 2013 cannot come soon enough! The last major issue I wish to comment on is the present Maritime NZ Funding Review. In essence, this review is looking at how Maritime NZ presently funds its services and