Inquiries & Recommendations

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On 30 April 2023, the Commission recommended that Maritime New Zealand alert all vessel operators using rubber expansion joints within a vessel’s safety-critical system to the importance of taking into account the date of manufacture, in addition to the time in service, in their maintenance schedules to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Consider and make suitable rules for the carriage of life jackets in passenger carrying balloons.

Take steps to ensure propelling movements are carried out from a safe position to control movements by line of sight, including the use of a second man when line of sight is restricted.

Introduce a company policy where the navigation of any vessel is monitored by a person suitably experienced for the circumstances.

Remind all operators of AS350 series helicopters of the hazards associated with hydraulic jack stall and the precautions necessary to avoid its onset, particularly in conditions of moderate to severe turbulence.

Reassess the desirability of permitting shunting staff to ride on the deck of certain wagons, and in particular for RCO's to control shunt movements from such a position.

Reviews the desirability of leaving rakes of wagons detached on main lines during locomotive servicing.

On 23 February 2018 the Commission recommended that the Directeur D’exploitation at Ponant review the safety management system on board L’Austral and upgrade it to ensure that the standards of voyage planning, the standards of navigation and the level of bridge resource management met the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation and followed the guidelines in leading industry publications.

promote compliance with the Safe Ship Management operations manual by the boat crew, particularly the maintenance of radio contact with Maritime Radio while the boat is at sea.

further promote the introduction of a Civil Aviation Rule requiring current and new Part 135 aircraft capable of being operated under IFR to be fitted with an approved terrain awareness and warning system at the soonest opportunity.

consider the provision of conveyor systems in the fish holds of the company vessels where these are not already fitted and where the dimensions and layout of the hold are such that fitting is practicable.

Review orders and instructions to ensure the criteria under which controller staffing levels can be reduced, are adequately defined.