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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NZMTA NEWS THE ASSOCIATION'S NEW FACE BY ALAN MOORE A very warm welcome to all from the New Zealand Marine Transport Association. This year brings some very exciting developments for our members as new initiatives are rolled out over the coming 12 months. Members can expect a lot more for their membership dollar and existing and future sponsors will receive greater support and exposure through their involvement and contribution to our association. Despite the best efforts of the dedicated group of volunteers who serve on our committee, the association has been suffering a diminishing membership list. The impact of this has been felt more deeply over the past decade, with constant changes in maritime rules, higher compliance costs in a more competitive market and, more recently, the influence of the international recession on New Zealand businesses and individual operators. The committee decided a new and exciting marketing plan with a fresh set of objectives that focus specifically on members' needs was required. Some of these include: • a technical help-line where operators can access information and receive personalised guidance on maritime rules and regulations through the Maritime Transport website. This service will only be available to members and accessed by a unique membership number • e-newsletters discussing the latest Maritime New Zealand, safe ship management and member news, and • vessel operator seminars. These are currently held twice a year for fleet operators and have been an excellent tool for networking and meeting with government agencies. This year the committee is looking to expand these to other sectors such as marine farming, hire-drive, sailing craft and workboats. A series of road shows is planned for the second half of 2012 to introduce this concept in areas such as Coromandel, Nelson, Bluff and Queenstown. It's time for a change, one that respects the grassroot foundations of the MTA, while embracing the current needs of our operators. The key to its success is taking the needs of our current and future members into account. We need to hear from you on how you consider the association can best meet your needs. Please take the time to email us on marinetransport@ihug. co.nz or phone our Freephone 0800-667 783 and let us know how we can work better for you. It could be through stronger representation, lobbying the government for rule changes, guidance on maritime regulations, more information from our sponsors or simply having access to our technical team when required. Our secretary, Alan Moore, has spent some time keeping an eye on maritime issues and has the following updates to share. The Rena saga continues to haunt us. With the vessel now almost completely submerged, the cost of salvaging the wreck and her cargo will have escalated beyond the imaginable. This begs the question, given that Maritime NZ's costs associated with the Rena response are approximately $25 million (as at January 11), who will be picking up the tab. We have learned New Zealand is covered for up to $12 million by international convention. We also hear this cover could have been doubled but New Zealand, through a vagary, chose not to take advantage of that benefit. Again, will Maritime NZ be responsible for recovering their costs and if so, who from. Maritime NZ increase charges: Maritime NZ has advised operators of the increased charges for providing services to commercial operators which came into effect from February 1. Under the Shipping (Charges) Regulations 2000 they have the right to make charges of $101 per hour for New Zealand Ship Safety Certificates, $103.25 for exemptions. However, the documents that accompanied the announcement stated the charge for exemptions would be $343 and for safe ship management certificated $201. They have justified the total charge by including administrative, technical and scientific/ management staff. Maritime NZ has stated the increase is part of a staged review that has occurred as a result of the value for money review. Unfortunately, this review was conducted on a confidential basis and the outcome was not able to be communicated to our industry. However, the review has been stalled due to the agency's resources being tied up with the Rena. When we asked Maritime NZ when consultations would occur, their reply was that the last consultation was in 2000 and this was considered sufficient for the immediate purpose, but there would be further consultations as soon as the review re-commenced. This is somewhat concerning, because it actually says that due to the regulations in place, Maritime NZ can increase their charges whenever they feel the need. The inference that this is just an interim measure is also of some concern. I have studied the Shipping Regulations and find Maritime NZ is required to be reasonable about the way they impose the charges. I don't believe giving notice two weeks before Christmas and implementing these charges on February 1 is reasonable, especially when no consultation has been conducted for 11 years. Furthermore, I believe Maritime NZ's charges for any of its activities should be transparent. To simply decide there is a technical content without detail does not appear on the face of it to be reasonable. Exemption applications have been a problem for the agency for years, with little or very slow response coming out of Wellington to most applications. SSM Certificates bring about 68 Professional Skipper March/April 2012 VIP.S48