million miles in her career was because she travelled everywhere so fast. Her normal service speed was faster than the maximum speed attainable by a lot of warships!
I was given access to the bridge and engine room and took many photos in these areas, and again on the current Queen Elizabeth, where we spent last August when my son was First Officer on there. After the Costa Concordia mishap, I doubt this would now be possible even for crew family members. Anyway, keep the magazine going. I always buy a copy as soon as I return home to NZ, it helps me keep up with industry over here. Tony Skilton, Whangaparaoa
ONE RULE? Dear Sir
Getting over an op on my shoulder and suffering with a god- awful head cold, I thought what better than to read my issue of Professional Skipper.
I read with interest the Letter to the Ed from Bill Hohepa re: Government Vessels. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have a feeling that DOC also seem to be exempt from having to have Maritime qualifications and a Boatmaster's certificate, so I ask the same question asked by Bill Hohepa. That is, why don't Government vessels come under the same stringent rules, both in boat survey and personal qualifications, as everyone else in the industry? Outward Bound is not a government institution but a charitable trust, but I don't see that it should make any difference. The two vessels that follow the cutters are in survey I believe, but again, they only use a Boatmaster's qualification and it is the boat's master who instructs each new course guide, as to the operation of the survey vessels. Not acceptable in my book. I did apply for a job there last year but in cost cutting was basically told that they do not need anyone with a skipper's ticket. The chap who was leaving did have an ILO but they weren't replacing him with another qualified skipper. Personally I don't believe that there should be exceptions: one rule for all. Lead by example isn't it? Pat Copp, Marlbourgh Sounds
DOC BOATS Dear Sir
Re: In response to Bill Hohepa's letter in issue 89 Government boats are subject to Safe Ship Management inspections and the crews are certificated under Maritime NZ rules and have been forever. Prior to that SSM boats of six metres or less were not subject to survey or inspections, but in many areas came under local harbour jurisdiction and regulations. In my "retirement", I manage the Department of Conservation's Part 35 Industry Specific training scheme as approved and audited by Maritime NZ, primarily for their 80 boats of under six metres. The other 15 boats of 6-20 metres are crewed by a mixture of LLO, ILM to NZCM/SCFV: a total of some 220 certificated and competent skippers.
Our boats and crews are scattered from North Cape to Stewart Island in 37 operational areas including expeditions south to the Auckland Islands and north to Raoul Island. All of our 95 boats are in survey. About five years ago we
had 115, however the costs of maintenance and compliance has forced some areas to downsize or get rid of boats. I know that other government departments are in the same position as DoC: having boats in survey and skippers certificated. Perhaps the fisheries guy Bill mentions was subject to a "miscommunication"? Who knows! Lionel Brock, National Boats Advisor,
Department of Conservation, NZCM MEC 5
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