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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: Sandra Gorter Contributors: Baden Pascoe Carol Forsyth Michael Pignéguy Hugh Ware, USA David Ledson Daniel Corbett Stuart Cawker Margaret Wind R. Lea Clough Lynton Diggle Trevor Coppock Karyn van Wijngaarden Louise Deehan-Owen Rod McCullum Sandra Gorter Jeff Cook 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. JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – MPA AWARDS 2012 Finalist 2008 Qantas Media Awards JUDGED HIGHLY COMMENDED EDITOR OF THE YEAR – MPA AWARDS 2009 F The good, the bad AND THE UGLY irst the good. With so much in the news it would be amiss of me not to start on a positive note and acknowledge the Master, Chief Engineer and crew of MFV Amaltal Columbia following the potentially dangerous fire on board off the Kaikoura coast. Clearly the survival of this ship was a result of good training and onboard systems,The crew were able to contain the fire by closing off all ventilation and commencing boundary cooling. Even when the breathing apparatus air ran out they continued to isolate the fire until driven out by smoke. Yes, it has been said that some actions taken may have been foolhardy with crew taking some risks, but let's not forget that life at sea is always a calculated risk as we go about our daily tasks. So let's all be proud of the actions of these Kiwi seafarers who not only saved their ship, they returned to it, to take a tow and thereby returned the ship safely to port where the professional fire fighters could gain access and kill the fire. In doing so they not only saved the ship, but some $20m of valuable fish catch in the freezers. Makes one proud to be a Kiwi. Well done all. Auckland, 'How dare they!' the offended community cried. Who are these heartless Wellington arseholes who dare to charge a grieving widow? Now that the case is before the courts clearly Maritime NZ officials cannot defend themselves and while I have been known to give them swish when deserved, on this occasion lets just review the facts. Now to the bad. It is with some concern that I heard that the Prime Minister was offering the American film industry a 15 percent plus subsidy to make films in New Zealand. What about our ship building industry I ask? A 15 percent subsidy would just about turn our ship building industry around, creating hundreds of jobs and a flow on effect so that we will be able to replace our aging fishing and workboat fleet with modern efficient vessels. Instead, we are witnessing a fleet of dying fishing vessels including the FCV's and to add insult to injury, watch new builds of ferries, tugs, barges and small coastal ships being built offshore. Come on John, a bit of Government support would be good. On a more sobering note the ugly. Maritime NZ have just announced that they are pressing five charges against the company AZ1 Enterprises Limited and five more against company director Gloria Davis, in that they operated a vessel in breech of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Crimes Act 1961, following the recent loss of the FV Easy Rider along with eight lives. The Easy Rider fully loaded with ice, bait and pots for an extended fishing trip, then loaded several more tonnes of gear, including building materials, barrels and supplies, along with seven passengers who intended to harvest mutton birds from the southern mutton bird islands. It has been reported from the survivor that there were not enough life jackets suitable for each person on vessel. Clearly Maritime NZ believe there have been breeches to compliance with the rules to have taken such action. Based on the evidence I have seen thus far, I believe Maritime NZ have taken the only course of action left open to them. Let's not forget that eight souls, on top of six from the Kotuku, all from the muttonbird community, have been lost in less than six years. Not good, and it must stop. If the muttonbird community cannot do it, then we must rely on the regulator to act. In saying this, I recognise that one part of this community have responded in preparing their customary muttonbirding expeditions in a safe and appropriate manner. But sadly, there remains some who have continued to flaunt the rules and as such why should they be excused, and allowed to get away with sending innocent folk to their death, while others comply with the rules? It might also be of interest to note that the people responsible for loading this vessel at the time, who watched it depart into prevailing conditions of which other experienced fishermen would argue was bloody rough, are very lucky to not be facing serious criminal charges of criminal neglect contributing to the loss of life and manslaughter. Another option might be for the Minister of Transport to ask the Minister of Conservation to withdraw permits to conduct the annual muttonbird harvest until all parties comply with the safety rules. I make this statement in an effort to explain that both the maritime industry and the authorities are now taking a very serious view of this situation. We have no argument with the widow. Gloria is a responsible woman, the owner and director of the company owning the vessel. As such, like us, we all have clear responsibilities. I really feel for her loss. Although one must ask, did she attempt to stop Easy Rider from sailing? Did she know her partner held no qualification? Who was the designated fit and proper person who signed the vessel's SSM documents? Did she know the vessel once fully loaded for fishing, was being loaded with tons of more gear for the muttonbird islands? The sad answers to these questions will be revealed in the fullness of time. Fishermen who witnessed the loading and departure have said the vessel was down to her beltings with minimal freeboard and then, in what can only be described as being a foolhardy action, sailed at night into atrocious weather. I hear the cries of angst and shame in Keith Ingram, Editor