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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WATERFRONT BUSINESS In brief… Drowned man's widow tells Pasifika: Wear lifejackets! Latu Paasi, whose husband So'saia and seven-year-old son Tio drowned in a boating tragedy when their boat capsized in the Manukau Harbour on May 20, has spoken out calling for better education around water safety to prevent more drownings. "You can't just turn up and be on the boat without a lifejacket. I think with Pacific Islanders, hardly any of them, back in the islands and some here in New Zealand, it's not a matter to them to wear life jackets.'' Three of Paasi's children were pulled to safety but her husband and son are among the eight people who have drowned in Auckland waters since October 2011. In the past four years, 24 others have drowned. Her comments come on the back of a WaterSafe Auckland forum which addressed the high drowning toll among Pacific Islanders. Jet boat rules welcome Queenstown jet boat operators are welcoming new rules which will see all commercial drivers on rivers licensed for the first time. The new rules stipulate drivers must be licensed and fill out mandatory log books. Current drivers may apply for a licence under special transitional provisions, and will be issued subject to a safe driving record and drivers being "fit and proper persons" as defined by the Maritime Transport Act 1994. New drivers will be required to pass a practical test before gaining a licence. The rule comes into effect on August 2 and includes design and construction changes to provide greater passenger protection. Maritime New Zealand has worked closely with the industry and the New Zealand Commercial Jet Boat Association to develop the rule. Kawarau Jet, Ngai Tahu Tourism, Shotover Jet and Skippers Canyon Jet welcomed the introduction of the new rules and licences which they say will tidy up the industry. NZ commits to global ocean partnership New Zealand has signed up to a global partnership on oceans at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil, Environment Minister Amy Adams announced today. New Zealand joins nine other countries in the partnership, including Australia, South Korea and Norway. The partnership also includes 63 other organisations, including fishing and seafood companies, and non-governmental organisations such as WWF. 42 Professional Skipper September/October 2012 TOTAL DREDGING, PART of the Total Group, are finding versatility is the key to the success of their Northland and Auckland operations. Total Dredging purchased a 24mx10m ro-ro barge the Foveaux Trader from Stewart Island, and completed modifications at Opua Engineering. The Foveaux Trader provides the working platform for a 20-ton Hitachi long reach digger, with a storage hopper that holds 136 cubic metres. The barge has recently completed maintenance dredging in the Bay of Islands and has just started a five year contract to remove up to 6000 cubic metres of material per year for the next five years from the Whangarei Town Basin, material from the Hatea channel, and from Kissing Point as required. The versatile platform can easily reconfigure back to its original function as a ro-ro barge, providing plenty of room for building materials and machinery for building jetties and pontoons. CAPTAIN MOKO GOES UNDER THE RECENT LOSS of the fishing charter vessel Tangaroa in Rarotonga has raised serious concerns within tourism circles regarding safety. Tangaroa, operated by Captain Moko's fishing charters, foundered after being dumped negotiating out through a reef in what has been described as, rough conditions that no prudent skipper would risk with tourists on board. The incident has raised international concerns about the standard and qualifications of skippers, and safety standards of vessels in the Cook Islands being operated for charter, when there is limited compliance to accepted safety standards. Tourism marketing companies expect these vessels to be of an approved standard and operated in a safe manner and they are recommending caution to travellers to the Islands when booking fishing trips on small craft. Conditions outside a reef can be markedly different to that inside or to what people maybe used to at home. These risks are further exacerbated when local skippers throw caution to the wind to ensure financial returns and not giving refunds. A quick read of some of tourist reviews on the web in relation to Captain Moko emphasises the need for prudence and caution when considering chartering a vessel for fishing in Rarotonga. Versatility key to dredging success