Masters of foreign ships

COVID-19 update

The Maritime Border Order (MBO) is no longer in force which means the following border requirements have been removed:

• Testing for arrivals on commercial craft, including freight, fishing, fuel vessels, specialty vessels and research ships
• Requirements for arrivals on cruise and recreational ships to be vaccinated

For ships coming to New Zealand, the notice of arrival via the Extended Notice of Arrivals form is no longer required, however the Advanced Notice of Arrival, No Change of Health Status and Maritime Declaration of Health documentation, are still required.

Masters still need to advise the port health authority at each port whether there are any notifiable infectious diseases on board, including COVID-19. Please visit NZ Customs for more information.

Passengers and crew no longer have to be COVID-19 symptom free before travelling to New Zealand. However, if passengers and crew have COVID-19, they are encouraged not to travel to New Zealand.

New air pollution prevention rules

New Marine Protection Rules introduce the MARPOL Annex VI requirements in New Zealand’s jurisdiction.

By mid-2022, new Marine Protection Rules Part 199: Preventing Air Pollution from Ships (Part 199) apply to all ships voyaging in New Zealand’s jurisdiction. Foreign ships visiting New Zealand ports and terminals are required to comply with Part 199 regardless of whether they are flagged to a state party to the IMO’s MARPOL Annex VI agreement.

Subpart D of Part 199 outlines how the rules apply to foreign ships.  Part 199 generally applies to foreign ships in the same manner the rules apply to New Zealand ships that voyage internationally.

View Rules Part 199

Reporting accidents and defects

Accidents, damage and defects occurring in New Zealand must be reported using the online reporting form.

Report online now

Masters of vessels visiting New Zealand with a known defect must report the defect to internationalshipping@maritimenz.govt.nz prior to arrival.

SOLAS Ch.1 Regulation 11(c)

SOLAS Ch.1/Reg.11(c) requires Masters to report accidents, damage and defects discovered on-board ship to the flag State and their Recognised Organisation (RO) or Surveyor, and when in the port of another Contracting Government, to the port State. The RO/Surveyor also bear responsibility under this regulation to ensure that such a report has been made.

Reporting accidents and defects under marine environment protection conventions

Reports must be sent to Maritime NZ at internationalshipping@maritimenz.govt.nz by the master, owner or RO, as the case requires, where an accident occurs or a defect is discovered in New Zealand jurisdiction under the terms of the survey provisions of the following conventions:

• MARPOL - Annex I regulation 6.4.3 where the integrity of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its equipment covered by the Annex I is substantially affected.
• MARPOL - Annex II regulation 8.3.3 where the integrity of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its equipment covered by the Annex II is substantially affected.
• BWM Convention - regulation E-1.7 where the ability of the ship to conduct ballast water management in accordance with the convention is substantially affected.

In the case of ballast water management, a report that a ship is unable to meet the requirements of the international regulations in waters under New Zealand jurisdiction (extending to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone) should be communicated to Maritime New Zealand without delay via the contact above. The report must include any details of RO and flag State involvement in determining appropriate contingency arrangements. Maritime New Zealand will act on the notification in accordance with New Zealand law, taking into account the facts of the particular case. It will have regard to the advice on contingency measures set out in IMO BWM.2/Circ.62.

Navigating the New Zealand coast

When navigating around the New Zealand coast and approaching a pilot station, Masters are recommended to follow the routing guidance in NZ Annual Notice to Mariners No 10 issued by Maritime NZ and published by the National Hydrographer:

NZ Annual Notice to Mariners No 10[www.linz.govt.nz]

Pilotage

Many ports in New Zealand offer standard pilotage plans which Masters may incorporate into their voyage plans. In offering links to these pilotage plans Maritime NZ does not endorse them but reminds Masters of their overarching responsibility for the safe navigation of their vessels which may necessitate adjusting specific plans. Maritime NZ emphasises the importance of an effective Master:Pilot exchange of information, and that the Master and Pilot MUST discuss any deviation or interpretation to the standard pilotage plans.