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
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/63646
LETTERS CONTINUED… to, and I have no doubt that was done shortly before I arrived to inspect them. Yet many operators clearly maintain their boats and gear to high standards. All that is really needed to continue the safety record of this industry is a simple check to ensure the seaworthiness of the vessel, that it has the necessary safety equipment, and to issue the skipper and operator with a sheet of paper outlining their responsibilities. Anything else is just fluff and does more harm than good as it creates frustration with needless paperwork. Because it is instigated by Maritime NZ it also creates resentment and another level of bureaucratic dislike. Which brings me to the Fit and Proper Person form. The fishing industry has long been infused with colourful characters. This form is a huge imposition on them. Maritime NZ playing God with their livelihoods is a despicable thing. So a person has a conviction. Fishing is a good place for them. They can't get in too much trouble at sea. Maritime NZ holding them to ransom over this form is disgraceful. It is a given that some people are not fit and proper, but if they are not incarcerated they need to do something. If fishing is their living so be it. Generally it makes a better alternative than elsewhere in the community and a hell of a lot better than not working. I have no problem with FPP forms for those wishing to carry paying passengers and the like but needing one for every marine document that is current for inshore fishing industry is wrong. The intention of Maritime NZ to impose this new charge has been the last straw for me. I don't feel that I can continue to represent Maritime NZ as an Authorised Person when I am so disgruntled at the continuing impositions, especially this new cost. A Certificate of Fitness for a truck only costs around $170, is a much more complex (inspection) and a truck is a greater threat to society. I believe Maritime NZ should be simplifying its involvement. Consequently I am resigning as an Authorised Person and returning my Authority. I am sending a copy of this letter to other APs in the hope that they too will put pressure on Maritime NZ to change. RG Smith, Thames GYPSY DEMISE Dear Sir Good article pointing out the absolutely gutless approach from Maritime New Zealand regarding this matter. We are never going to improve the attitudes of recreational boaters if this is all they can do. People need to understand that when they skipper a vessel of any size they have to act in a totally responsible manner. However, this incident can be put right and forgotten about without the interaction of Maritime NZ. The St Clair-Browns are well-established Auckland boating people and they should have a moral obligation to do whatever it takes to get this priceless little yacht repaired. Come on Charles, forget about the heartless and soulless legal side of this and help these people out and maintain your family boating mana. I feel very, very strongly about this. Boating people, especially this family should simply do the right thing! Baden Pascoe, member, Classic Yacht Assn, Auckland SKIPPER CLOUT Dear Sir In reading your article on the loss of the Gypsy I could not agree with you more. It concerns me that Maritime New Zealand are passing the buck when they are the safety authority and regulator. Charles St Clair Brown is not a nice man, in fact he has a 4 Professional Skipper May/June 2012 reputation on the water as being a bully and the bugger should not get away with it. He broke the rules and now should face the consequences. This would not have happened when his dad was alive, he was a gentleman and would have done what's right. This bugger still sucks on a silver spoon and thinks he can pull strings to make it go away. Keith you are the only one with enough clout in the industry to do something. On behalf of all of us please do what it takes to make Maritime NZ do their job and investigate, prosecute and then let the courts decide. Jack Taylor, retired boat builder, Howick MNZ ACCOUNTABLE? Dear Sir Following your editorial on the effectiveness of Maritime New Zealand in pursuing recreational incidents and the resulting action or rather inaction, I wish to share my own recent experience. As a charter operator on Auckland Harbour I am often the victim of careless and disrespectful boating behaviour, it seems to come with the territory. The latest was being at anchor fishing with 10 passengers by Rangitoto. A 40ft ex-commercial steel boat at eight knots glanced the bow rail of my charter boat. The owner admitted he was on autopilot, and was not personally on watch, shutting down his coursemaster and speed once past our vessel. If this is not reprehensible skippering I do not know what is. The incident form was sent to Maritime NZ with supporting eye witness statements. The result? A $100 ticket from the harbourmaster. If the tables were turned I am sure the outcome would be different. More accountability is needed by recreational boaties and the authorities before an incident like this becomes a fatal statistic. Still love the magazine after all these years. Eugen de Bruyn, Fishing Adventures Thanks Eugen, sadly since the departure of Jim Lott who was our recreational boating manager for Maritime NZ, we appear to be witnessing a total lack of interest in recreational boating incidents by the regulator as the Gypsy incident will attest. Ed … SCUMBAG AFLOAT Dear Sir I'm not sure which of your magazines is the better location, both being so worthy. Last week we had the great fortune to spend a week sailing in the Bay of Islands and I would like to share with readers an encounter we witnessed with a local launch. We were in the general area between Motuarohia (Roberton) Island and Black Rocks enjoying a dolphin encounter, clear conditions and light wind. We had our full main up with the motor idling while another yacht nearby with no sail up was motoring very slowly, nearly stationary. We first noticed a launch en-route from Ninepin to Tapeka Point at full displacement speed (big bow wave) about 1-1.5 miles off. In the attached picture you'll see the launch was not even making a closing course, however as it slowed, this was soon to change. As it slowed it turned to port and appeared to be going to pass behind the yacht near us (an offshore cruising visitor), I saw nothing of any concern. Next thing this tee shirt covered chunk of blubber on the flying bridge let rip at the other yacht a mouthful of expletives, basically about who has right of way, and because the yacht was motoring the launch didn't have to give way etc. This has to be one of the worst accounts of seamanship I have seen in a long time, to change course and hunt down another boat to abuse the skipper is totally inappropriate and unnecessary.