Professional Skipper Magazine from VIP Publications

TM EDITORIAL Servicing the maritime industry since 1996 Incorporating New Zealand Workboats, NZ Professional Skipper & Oceans ISSN 1176-3078 ISSN 1176-8665 is published by: VIP Publications, 4 Prince Regent Drive, Half Moon Bay, Auckland 2012 Ph 09 533 4336 Fax 09 533 4337 Email keith@skipper.co.nz advertising@skipper.co.nz website: www.skipper.co.nz Editor: Keith Ingram Manager: Vivienne Ingram Editorial assistant: Mark Barratt-Boyes Contributors: Baden Pascoe Carol Forsyth Michael Pignéguy Hugh Ware, USA Kelvin Hieatt Stuart Cawker Lindsay Wright Alan Moore R. Lea Clough Lynton Diggle Trevor Coppock Hayley Campbell Louise Deehan-Owen Rod McCullum Bob McDavitt Rodger Grayson Dave Wooff Jo Bascombe Justine Inns Advertising: Designer: Printers: Distribution: Hamish Stewart Rachel Walker GEON Gordon and Gotch Ltd Subscriptions: Professional Skipper is published for the maritime transport industry. It is available on subscription in NZ and overseas. General: Reproduction of articles and materials published in Professional Skipper in whole or part, is permitted provided the source and author(s) are acknowledged. However, all photographic material is copyright and written permission to reproduce in any shape or form is required. Contributions of a nature relevant to the maritime transport industry are welcomed and industry participants are especially encouraged to contribute. Letters to the Editor should be signed and carry the writer's full name and address. Articles and information printed in Professional Skipper do not necessarily reflect the opinions or formal position or the publishers unless otherwise indicated. Material and information of a formal nature provided by the MSA, MoF or TAIC is identified by the use of their logo. All material published in Professional Skipper is done so with all due care as regards to accuracy and factual content. The publishers and editorial staff however cannot accept responsibility for any inadvertent errors and omissions which may occur. Professional Skipper is produced bi-monthly. Finalist 2008 Qantas Media Awards JUDGED HIGHLY COMMENDED EDITOR OF THE YEAR – MPA AWARDS 2009 A May 2012 be nice – we deserve it s 2011 draws to a close it is timely to reflect on the events of this past year that have had a serious impact on the maritime community. The world recession, the Christchurch/ Lyttelton earthquakes, the explosion at the Pike River mine and the grounding of the Rena have all had a downstream effect on us in one way or another. The exception could be said to be the Rena, which can be likened to a double-edged sword. Some businesses and those in hospitality have enjoyed a royal flush, while others have suffered because of the ongoing effects. The drain on the Bay of Plenty's community resources and volunteers has been huge. Maritime New Zealand and others could have responded better in the first few days but to be fair, due to internal restructuring, the organisation has lost much of the institutional knowledge and maritime skills that would have assisted it in giving decisive leadership in the first few days. Maritime NZ did recover when the director, Catherine Taylor, requested the assistance of Commander Nick Quinn, RNZN Rtd, who used to head up Maritime NZ's oil response unit and who is now with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. This was a smart move by Cath, one of which most industry pundits suggest led to the turning point of organisational management and direction on the ground. There are further reports on the Rena in this issue. As we go to press I note we have a number of FCVs in our ports. What is obvious to all at the moment is a large amount of work is being carried out on many of these Korean vessels this year, far more than previous years. The Lyttelton dry dock is busy doing much needed hull plate work, especially around the stern areas. I also understand a lot is being done to improve the crew living conditions also. Well done, my guess is that with all the media exposure and the continuing number of desertions, along with the Ministerial Inquiry into the conditions and safety of these vessels might have something to do with the increased activity. The appointment of David Billington, a very skilled and experienced mariner, as permanent Maritime NZ MSI in this area may have gone a long way to enforce compliance and upgrading of standards. I also understand that SGS are now involved at a more senior level to lift the standard of surveyors. today in the past year or even the past five years. This is the result of years of dodgy surveying and non-compliance by many of these vessels' operators and this shake-up should only be the start. As the year closed it was disappointing to hear of strike action and then lock-outs at Ports of Auckland. The dispute evolves around many embedded inflexibilities and old-fashioned work practices, meaning that labour utilisation at POAL is about 65 percent, compared to 80 percent at the Port of Tauranga. The average wage for stevedores is $91,480 with some earning as much as $122,000 plus medical insurance, five weeks annual leave for shift work as the list of benefits climb. The gravy train for many of these die-hard workers may have just come to an end. The result is the announcement that the biggest shipper, the Maersk Southern Star container service amounting to 52 ship calls with some 82,500 containers, has switched to the Port of Tauranga. "The industrial action at Auckland and maintaining the security of our supply chain played a part in the decision," Maersk's New Zealand marketing manager Dave Gulik said. When will we learn! In this issue we farewell our larger-than- life weather ambassador for the Met Service, Bob McDavitt. When we asked Bob about his retirement plans, his modest response was: "I'm going into cruise mode and becoming the independent weather ambassador to the cruising fraternity, giving personalised weather information to cruising yachties making passage around the South Pacific." Good on you, Bob. We wish you well. Another departee is Catherine Taylor who retired on December 3 after five years as Director of Maritime Safety, although we understand that because of the Rena grounding she will still be in the wings of Maritime NZ as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition of command. There will be some, both from within the corridors of Maritime NZ and out in the maritime industry, who would relish Catherine's departure and others who may not share the same views. Whether you liked or disliked her, Catherine was still responsible for much-needed change within the way we operate our safety culture in our domestic fleet. Likewise, word from within suggests that the Koreans and the New Zealand charter companies are not happy about being the focus of attention and are said to be complaining about the higher level of compliance enforcement. Part of this shake-up includes rattling the surveyor's cages. Not wishing to point a finger, those surveyors who have always remained professional will have no fear of recriminations. Sadly, some will need to review their own activities and in doing so must ask the question, would I be happy to sail on this ship? Clearly these ships have not deteriorated to the current appalling sub-standard many are in Keith Ingram, Editor The current shakeup of SSM with the review of operating limits and the development of MOSS and QOL would not have happened had it not been for her. Trust me. Cath, we thank you and wish you well. Finally, from the team at Professional Skipper, may the jolly bearded fat fella in the red suit be kind to you and yours. Merry Christmas all.

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