All Rules

The Maritime Transport Act 1994 allows the Minister of Transport to make maritime rules and marine protection rules. Through the rules the Minister can also enable transport instruments, which are generally made by the Director. Transport instruments set out detailed or technical requirements for complying with the rules. They can be updated faster than rules, which helps us respond to changes in the international settings and new technologies.

The maritime rules, marine protection rules and transport instruments set out the legal requirements that must be complied with (where applicable).

Maritime Rules

Part 19 Maritime transport operator - certification and responsibilities
Updated: 21 April 2025

Part 20 Operating Limits
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 21 Safe Ship Management Systems
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 22 Collision Prevention
Updated: 31 March 2021

Part 23 Operational Procedures and Training
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 24A Carriage of Cargoes – Dangerous Goods
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 24B Carriage of Cargoes – Stowage and Securing
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 24C Carriage of Cargoes – Specific Cargoes
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 24D Carriage of Cargoes – Convention Containers
Updated: 1 April 2015

Part 24E Carriage of Cargoes – Offshore Containers
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 25 Nautical Charts and Publications
Updated: 1 July 2016

Part 31 Crewing and Watchkeeping
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 32 Seafarer Certification
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 34 Medical Standards
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 35 Approval of Training for Purposes of Part 32, Assessments and Examinations, and Industry Specific Certificates
Updated: 21 April 2025

Part 40A Design, Construction and Equipment – Non-SOLAS Passenger Ships
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 40B Design, Construction and Equipment – SOLAS Ships
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 40C Design, Construction and Equipment – Non-SOLAS Non- Passenger Ships
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 40D Design, Construction and Equipment – Fishing Ships
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 40E Design, Construction and Equipment – Sailing Ships
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 40F Design, Construction and Equipment – Hovercraft
Updated: 1 November 2016

Part 40G Design, Construction and Equipment – Novel Ships
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 404 Design, Construction, and Equipment - New Zealand Cape Town Vessels and Foreign Cape Town Vessels
Updated: 9 December 2022

Part 41 Anchors and Chain Cables
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 42A Safety Equipment – Lifesaving Appliance Performance Standards
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 42B Safety Equipment – Fire Appliance Performance Standards
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 43 Radio
Updated: 28 January 2026

Part 44 Surveyor responsibilities and survey, certification, and maintenance for ships in maritime transport operations
Updated: 1 April 2014

Part 45 Navigational Equipment
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 46 Surveys, Certification and Maintenance
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 47 Load Lines
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 48 Tonnage Measurement
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 49 Ships’ Lifting Appliances
Updated: 1 January 2015

Part 50 Medical Stores
Updated: 1 November 2016

Part 51 Crew Accommodation
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 52 Maritime Labour Convention
Updated: 31 March 2021

Part 53 Pilot Transfer Arrangements and Ship - Helicopter Pilot Transfers
Updated: 1 November 2016

Part 73 Logbooks
Updated: 1 January 2015

Part 81 Commercial Rafting Operations
Updated: 1 November 2019

Part 82 Commercial Jet Boat Operations - Rivers
Updated: 21 April 2025

Marine Protection Rules

Part 100 Port Reception Facilities
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 101A Surveys and Inspections – Oil
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 101B Surveys and Inspections – noxious liquid substances carried in bulk
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 102 Certificates of Insurance
Updated: 27 May 2020

Part 103 Notifications – Oil and noxious liquid substances
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 120 Discharge of Oil
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 121A Ship Design and Construction - Oil Tankers
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 121B Ship Design and Construction – ships other than oil tankers
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 122 Marine Protection Products - Oil
Updated: 31 March 2021

Part 123A Documents - Oil
Updated: 27 August 2020

Part 123B Documents (Record Books and Manuals)
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 125 Shipboard Operations – Oil
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 130A Shipboard Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plans
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 130B Oil Transfer Site Oil Spill Contingency Plans
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 130C Regional Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plans
Updated: 11 January 2016

Part 131 Offshore Installations – Oil Spill Contingency Plans; Oil Pollution Prevention Certification
Updated: 11 January 2016

Part 132 New Zealand Oil Spill Control Agents
Updated: 26 August 2022

Part 140 Discharge of Noxious Liquid Substances Carried in Bulk
Updated: 1 February 2018

Part 141 Ship Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation – noxious liquid substances in bulk
Updated: 1 February 2018

Part 142A Documents (Certificates) - Noxious Liquid Substances
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 142B Documents (Record Books and Manuals) – noxious liquid substances
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 143 Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plans for Noxious Liquid Substances
Updated: 31 March 2021

Part 150 Carriage of Cargoes – harmful substances carried in packaged form
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 160 Carriage of Cargoes – harmful substances carried in packaged form
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 170 Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ship
Updated: 1 December 2025

Part 180 Dumping of Waste or Other Matter
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 190 Mandatory Ships Routeing
Updated: 13 December 2019

Part 199 Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships
Updated: 7 February 2024

Part 300 Ballast
Updated:1 December 2025