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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LETTERS CONTINUED… WINE? BEJEEZUS! Dear Sir I know you are probably sick of all the "accolades" but your mag is really great and extremely interesting. Thanks for being a real "straight shooter"! We still have 24/7 "surveillance" on the exclusion Rena zone too! At what cost bejeezus! Glad I am not paying and really who would go there at night anyway, perhaps an alcoholic wanting a wine! Russ Hawkins, Fat Boy Charters, Tauranga RENA DANGERS? Dear Sir The last issue of Professional Skipper, which I thoroughly enjoy, quoted the headline on page 41, "Rena deathtrap: not if but when". I personally find this akin to saying, "In front of you is a cliff, please do not jump". I have been a diver for over forty years, some on wrecks of all types and cave diving, I still dive regularly. Like any sport or activity there is always a risk, but rest assured you all took a far greater risk travelling to work today. It is what is between your ears that matters, you need to assess any risk with any activity. What Maritime NZ, Police dive teams and commercial divers are really saying, is that no person should be taking part in any activity that has a risk! So do not go hunting, fishing, trail bike riding or even walk in the bush, or any other normal NZ activity, because you just may get injured or even die. Look at the Mikhail Lermontov. Sunk in 1986, with all those deck and passageways that did cost a couple of divers their lives and has since been dived by hundreds of recreational divers a totally different layout just asking for entrapment. The Rena is a totally different ship. I have worked on this type of ship for thirty years and know the general build is far less complicated, than the Mikhail Lermontov. I would like to add here that I recently wrote to our harbourmaster to request that the exclusion zone of two nautical miles be reduced to one kilometre during daylight hours only. Incidentally, I run a small charter boat and some of our best fishing grounds are within a mile of the wreck. The reply back from Braemar Howells was as follows, "That the current exclusion zone of two nautical miles be maintained for the safety of their workers, especially their divers, while they are working on these hazards." If you have a fixed object to work on and if your divers are more than 200 metres away, then they are lost, or worse, in real trouble! While I am all for safety I also like to get logical answers too. This area is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of our local area for all fishers and divers and has impacted severely on our ability to earn a very small living. It is time that a common sense answer is reached for all concerned, both commercial divers and the recreational users of this area. Russ Hawkins, Fat Boy Charters, Tauranga ANTARCTIC SKIPPER Dear Sir I have managed to get a Skipper subscription flown down here at Scott Base. Scott Base is located on the waterfront but is currently under two metres of sea ice, so water vessels here are at a bare minimum. It is good to keep in touch with the marine industry even though you're based in Antarctica. UNBEATABLE VALUE Impressive Performance, Distinctive Good Looks When looking for your new alloy boat, SENATOR has a model to suit you, from 4m to 16m, Pontoon or now the Typhoon plate option. Check out the size, roominess, standard features of the range, you will find more for your boating dollar with SENATOR. ADD to that inherently safe, soft ride, stability at rest, you have a proven recipe for a great time on the water. Custom Builds on larger boats available SAFE, PROVEN, TRUSTED Dealers from Whangarei to Invercargill. Find out more! Call now… Keep up the good work, I will keep on walking on water in the meantime..! Andrew Williamson, Base Engineer, Scott Base FISHING MOVIES? Dear Sir I am an old fisherman, and I've worked 33 years in the fishery in the Netherlands and have now spent five years at home. In February 2007 I got back problems. In September 2007 screws and plates were put in my back and after much rehabilitation an examination at Flushing Hospital in Malle, concluded that I can no longer work in the fishery so no more fishing for me. My body was destroyed by fishing but I like the fisherman's life. I collect fisheries movies from everywhere. I have many films about beam, twin-trawling, flijshoot, etcetera, but I find it hard to get movies from twin-trawling fishery, chain, mats, pelagic, lobster, trawl, scallop, v.netten. All subjects would be welcome. Now my question: can you help me to find movies or DVD's? Everything is welcome if it's about fishing: DVD's on pelagic 6 Professional Skipper November/December 2012 VIP.S89