SeaChange from Maritime New Zealand - August 2016

Issue 36

October 2016

WELCOME to SeaChange – highlighting what's new and what's changing at Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) and in the maritime sector.

In this issue

Ringfence – it makes sense

To find out what can be done with older and legacy domestic tickets visit the Maritime NZ website now.

Seafarers can ring-fence some tickets – which means they can continue to use these tickets for the rest of their lives, with the same privileges, as long as they have a current medical certificate issued by any GP.

Safer Boating Week: October 14-21

Big Angry Fish safer boating ambassadors Milan and Nathan, and television presenter Duncan Garner, are among people up and down the country on board for Safer Boating Week - just 10 days away.

This year our safety messages – Prep your Boat, Check your Gear, Know the Rules – are again being promoted through a wide range of initiatives. These include wharf jumps in Wellington and Auckland on Friday, October 14, to remind boaties that lifejackets save lives; and a new Prep, Check, Know mini-guide, along with education videos featuring the Big Angry Fish crew.

See how you can get involved:

Careers at sea

Maritime New Zealand is reminding young people to consider a career at sea, as part of its World Maritime Day celebrations.

Mussel boat skipper Hone Abraham recommends getting a job on a boat and then working toward seafarer tickets.

The range of maritime jobs on the Careers NZ website has been expanded, and students, or those looking for a change of direction, can also check out the exciting lives of seafarers on our careers photo wall.

Industry forum for WMD

Maritime Industry leaders spoke at a forum for World Maritime Day recently – highlighting issues including the international oversupply of container ships; the growth of the fishing industry and tourism; and the difficulties in placing cadets on ships to complete their hours.

Commentator Colin James steered the debate, with the speakers including Sealord’s Dan Boulton, and Hennie van Schoor from the Maersk Line.

Maritime radio channels have changed

New Zealand, along with a number of other countries, has been required to change some maritime VHF repeater channels to make space for newly allocated international services for ship tracking and data services.

The frequency changes took place on 1 October 2016, before the peak summer recreational boating season when VHF radio services become busy. This ensures New Zealand is ready for the changes that come into force internationally on 1 January 2017.

More recognition for Kiwi fishermen

Maritime NZ will soon consult on changes to the Maritime Rules required to adopt international rules on certification for commercial fishermen.

The Government decided last year to accede to the International Maritime Organization’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (known as STCW-F).

To comment please check the Maritime NZ public consultation page from next Monday (10 October).

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