The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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provided under MOSS will be charged at the new rates, which will exceed the current costs under SSM. SSM companies have absorbed much of these costs to remain competitive. Each company has set its fees on the basis of previous costs but have had to undertake applications for exemptions and certificates involving hours of form-filling and scanning of historical data to Maritime NZ. We understand this part of SSM has considerably increased the operating costs to them but they have not passed on these charges. Under the proposed regime, Maritime NZ, as the only provider, will recover all of these costs and it's understood this rate will be $280 per hour. This will be for every hour worked, including travelling time and office administration time. Major improvements can be achieved through Maritime NZ fine-tuning their operation and building on their partnerships with the private sector. This could be achieved through setting higher standards and key performance indicators on the employers of surveyors, raising the bar in areas of training and compliance through a higher standard of auditing of SSM companies and surveyors by Maritime NZ. This enables overall control to remain with Maritime NZ, while offering the industry competitive choice. It pays to remember that New Zealand's commercial vessels already boast a higher standard than can be found in most westernised countries around the world, despite the age of our fleet. As an island nation, our domestic fleet is vitally important to the local economy and when one considers the total number of passengers and tonnage carried, our safety record is not all bad. It is our considered opinion that the Maritime NZ board should give serious thought to abandoning MOSS and rejig the SSM system with appropriate changes to satisfy their concerns over the shortcomings that they have perceived. At a recent seminar, industry representatives were castigated for not listening to the regulator. Perhaps the time has come for the regulator to listen to the industry. This can only be done by sensible discussion with all the stakeholders. Maybe this will happen with the changing of the guard. CHARTER BOAT CATCH REPORTING At the last Vessel Operators Seminar there was a presentation by Les Porter, the MTA representative from Tauranga, on the reality of charter boat catch reporting. This presentation was shown to the MP for Tauranga, Simon Bridges. He had indicated this presentation was clearly outlined and showed the issue succinctly. He indicated that he had been approached by a significant number of operators and now had a good understanding of the problem. Provided he retains his seat at the next election he will be approached to take the matter up with the Associate Minister of Transport, Nathan Guy. The presentation showed the Ministry of Fisheries was forcing a regime on charter boat operators that would provide information on only three percent of the national catch. This system was not accurate as the operators could not guarantee the information supplied to them was accurate and they could not legally force the fishers to comply. Furthermore, it showed MFish was already collecting more accurate data from their other surveys, in particular the recrea- tional ramp inspection surveys and this information is contained on the forms they use. They do not, however, use this data, which contains a record of the species and number caught, because they have not transferred the information from the forms to their recording system. Les has had discussions with a number of charter boat operators in the Bay of Plenty and reports they are all suffering from the effects of the exclusion zone that has been placed around the Astralobe Reef and the wreck of the Rena. If it is some consolation, at least no-one is catching fish and this will hopefully provide the opportunity for stocks to build up for a boomer Christmas. Some operators have the misconception that the catch reporting system is an opportunity to create a catch history that will lead onto a quota issue and have been over-reporting to boost their numbers. Let's be very clear, this is absolute rubbish. There will be no quota issued to any charter boat operator nor any recreational fisherperson. The MTA is doing everything it can to have this onerous system scrapped and any support we can get can only be beneficial. If any operator has an issue about the CBCR system, please contact Alan Moore on 021 942 850 or e-mail alan.j.moore@ vodafone.co.nz CERTIFICATED DECK HAND Mahurangi Tech has produced, in conjunction with a group of ferry operators, a task book that will comply with Maritime NZ's requirements in respect of the Certificate of Competency known as the Certified Deck Hand. This document lays out the education needed to obtain the certificate. More information will be provided in the next issue of Professional Skipper. Contact Alan Moore, executive officer, New Zealand Marine Transport Association on 021 942 850 or e-mail alan.j.moore@vodafone.co.nz Save Money And Fuel! We Supply Everyone From Trucking Fleets To Ships In The Ice, Agricultural, Automotive Engineers, Generation, Suppliers. And Now We Are Making It Available To You! CHORNCO'S PROPRIETARY RANGE OF PRODUCTS, PRODUCE COST SAVING BENEFITS THAT: ■ Reduce noxious emissions ■ Reduce fuel consumption ■ Replace fuel lubricity ■ Improves equipment performance ■ Sustain equipment effi ciency ■ Lower maintenance related costs ■ Eliminate Diesel Bug ■ Extend related equipment longevity CONTACT US TODAY: RALPH STARK 021-586-877 Offi ce 03-329-7834, Fax 03-329-7808 Email: Ralph@newfueltech.com Web: www.newfueltech.com January/February 2012 Professional Skipper 69 VIP.S68