Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On 26 July 2023, the Commission recommended that Maritime New Zealand use an appropriate mechanism that ensures the integrity and safety of fuel systems are being maintained and monitored through the survey system.

On 26 July 2023, the Commission recommended that Maritime New Zealand alert all industry stakeholders to the importance of inspecting a vessel’s complete fuel system to assure its integrity and safety.

Work with SAR coordination entities to ensure they have procedures for prompting the operator of air assets as to the maximum range of operation and opportunities for refueling for sustained SAR operations.

Work with SAR coordinators and providers of SAR air assets across New Zealand to identify opportunities for the supply and, if necessary, the storage of fuel for extended SAR operations in remote areas, and maintain a database of identified stored fuel and fuel supply logistics.

Ensure that appropriate rules and/or guidance is available to marine surveyors and vessel operators on the risk of having all life jackets stowed in one place that might not be accessible during foreseeable events.

Introduce the requirement for commercial vessels to be fitted with automatic identification system (AIS) or equivalent when carrying passengers outside of inshore limits.

Ensure that Maritime New Zealand has an adequate system for monitoring the performance of marine surveyors.

Coordinate across government and other appropriate agencies to identify and source air and maritime assets that are appropriately designed, equipped and crewed to meet New Zealand’s full SAR requirements. Government agencies that have a potential dual use for these assets or who have existing assets that could provide a dual role should be considered.

Delegate responsibility to one or more entities, for the remit, jurisdiction and resources to set standards for search and rescue (SAR) assets and the training of their SAR crews and enter into service level agreements with other agencies and operators for the provision of search and rescue assets.

Work with SAR coordination authorities to identify SAR assets that are likely to be routinely called on to act as on-scene coordinators and develop a joint training program that will ensure that they work to the same framework and use the same terminology as the coordinating authorities.

Implement a formal system that: • notifies surveyors of current and emerging changes to maritime rules for the construction, maintenance, and surveying of vessels • clarifies, where needed, the intent and application of maritime rules and other relevant standards

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.