Taking your boat overseas
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Your requirements
Anyone intending to take their recreational boat (recreational craft) overseas must meet requirements in section 21 of the Maritime Transport Act, which is designed to support the safe passage of boats and their crew when departing for overseas.
Under section 21, a skipper (master) of a recreational craft departing for overseas must:
- satisfy the Director of Maritime NZ that the vessel and its safety equipment are adequate for the voyage; and
- satisfy the Director of Maritime NZ that the vessel is adequately crewed for the voyage
- observe any relevant maritime rules and marine protection rules; and
- notify the Director of Maritime NZ of their intention to depart New Zealand before they leave.
Please note that before New Zealand Customs gives clearance for the boat to depart for overseas under the Customs and Excise Act, they will need to see evidence that the requirements under section 21 of the Maritime Transport Act have been met.
Depending on whether your boat is foreign, or New Zealand flagged, the process under section 21 will be different.
Anyone intending to take a New Zealand-flagged recreational boat overseas must complete an application for an International Voyage Certificate (pleasure craft) from Maritime NZ. Please allow at least three months from the time of the application to your intended departure. Applicants for an International Voyage Certificate (IVC) must meet several safety and administrative requirements before they can depart. This process is outlined below.
If you have a foreign flagged vessel, you will have to meet the requirements of your flag and notify the Director of Maritime NZ of your intention to depart New Zealand.
Intention to depart notification form (foreign flagged)
Applying for an International Voyage Certificate (Pleasure Craft)
Before starting your application, it is recommended that you read the Guidance for International Voyage Certificate Application. This guidance has been prepared by Maritime NZ and provides information about the application process and adequacy requirements to be met. This guidance will be continually updated as the process and technology changes. Please check back here to ensure you are referring to the latest version of the guidance.
Guidance for International Voyage Certificate Application (Pleasure craft) [PDF: 716kB, 13 pages]
- Fill out the application form. It can be completed electronically or on paper. This form will ask about your vessel and the experience of you and your crew. You will need to then email this form along with the other required information to RecreationalInternationalVoyage@maritimenz.govt.nz
- Once your application has been received, Maritime NZ will send you a link for payment. A fixed fee of $490 (GST inclusive) will be charged. There will be no extra charge for travel related to the assessment.
- A Maritime NZ Vessel Adequacy Assessor will review the application, and if the material meets the requirements, contact the applicant to arrange an onsite physical assessment of the vessel.
- The purpose of the onsite assessment is to check the adequacy of the vessel and its safety equipment, and there will be one onsite visit per application including an out-of-water vessel assessment.
- Applicants will need to confirm that all crew have completed the pre-departure drill checklist. You will not be able to get an International Voyage Certificate until you submit this checklist
- If the assessment is satisfactory and all documents including the pre-departure drill checklist are submitted, an International Voyage Certificate (Pleasure Craft) will be issued to the applicant.
- The IVC will be valid for 60 days.
- You can apply for a replacement certificate if you are unable to depart within 60 days of the IVC being issued, see below.
- If there are material changes relating to the craft, crew or equipment, a fresh application for an International Voyage Certificate will be required.
Applicants can contact a Maritime NZ Vessel Adequacy Assessor for more information, including before their application by emailing RecreationalInternationalVoyage@maritimenz.govt.nz
Replacement Certificates
An International Voyage Certificate (Pleasure Craft) will be valid for 60 days from the date of issue. If an extension of time is required, and there are no changes to the vessel, its equipment or crew from the original certificate issued, skippers can apply for a replacement certificate that will be issued with a 30-day validity period. The request for a replacement certificate must be submitted to Maritime NZ within the original 60-day period of validity. Beyond this timeframe, the IVC will be invalid. The cost of a replacement certificate will be $245 (GST inclusive).
If there are material changes relating to the craft, crew or equipment, a new application for an International Voyage Certificate will be required.
Email RecreationalInternationalVoyage@maritimenz.govt.nz if you need a replacement certificate.
Other information
Background to changes to administrative arrangements for craft, crew and equipment adequacy under section 21 – for New Zealand craft
Administrative arrangements to meet the MTA section 21 adequacy requirements for New Zealand registered recreational craft going overseas were previously delivered by Yachting NZ and Yachting NZ Inspectors under delegation from the Director of Maritime NZ (referred to as a CAT 1 Certificate).
From 1 July 2024, Maritime NZ assumed the administration and delivery of these requirements, following Yachting NZ’s decision to relinquish their delegation to perform this function. Skippers and crew will experience some changes in terms of the process and documentation to be completed, however, these are intended to be as efficient and effective as possible.
As with all regulatory settings, Maritime NZ will keep the MTA section 21 regime under review and will seek input from the sector when opportunities arise, to ensure it remains fit-for-purpose. The associated fee will be reviewed as a regular part of future funding reviews.
Yachting NZ will continue to manage their Category 1-5 inspections for boats competing in yacht races. If you are participating in a yacht race overseas (and your craft’s voyage starts in New Zealand), you will still need to meet the requirements under Section 21 and apply for an International Voyage Certificate (Pleasure Craft). You may also still need a Cat 1 Certificate from Yachting New Zealand
Registration
Registering your vessel will give you the protection of the New Zealand Government. The registration papers will provide proof of identity similar to a passport. New Zealand owned recreational vessels going on an overseas voyage must be registered as a New Zealand ship with the Registrar of Ships under the Ship Registration Act 1992
Ballast water management
If your vessel can carry non-permanent ballast water, and will be going overseas, you may have to ensure that the ballast water management systems onboard meet international standards.
Find out more on ballast water management
NZ Customs
Information on NZ Customs requirements for vessels departing New Zealand can be found on their website.
Foreign Vessels
If you have a foreign flagged vessel, you will have to meet the requirements of your flag and notify the Director of Maritime NZ of your intention to depart New Zealand.
Click here for the intention to depart notification form
FAQs
Our advice to skippers considering an overseas voyage is to read the guidance on our website about the International Voyage Certification (pleasure craft) (IVC) carefully and start to prepare your application as early as possible.
That includes enrolling early for sea survival and first aid courses, as they tend to fill up quickly.
We recommend you submit your IVC application at least three months before you intend to start your journey, even if there are outstanding items such as getting crew training or essential equipment to buy. An application can be submitted up to six months before the intended departure to allow time to plan, prepare and satisfy all requirements.
Once your application and IVC fee are received, you will get a response from Maritime NZ and be in line for processing.
Liaise with your Assessor around haul out dates for the physical assessment and let them know once any outstanding items on your application get completed.
The IVC is valid for 60 days and starts from the day it is issued.
Applicants can make one application for an extension to the validity period (up to 30 days) and there is a fee payable.
We recommend that crew safety drills should be one of the last things a skipper finalises for their application, as some crew might change after your initial application is sent.
The skipper’s crew drill declaration must include the names of everyone departing. This ensures anyone joining a boat is familiarized with safety procedures and equipment before you set off.
If the vessel is well prepared for the assessment and the requirements are met, the cost is $490. The fee covers the cost of processing the application; including a single visit to the ship.
If all of the requirements for an IVC are not met, your application will be declined and a new IVC application will be required along with a second fee.
Race boats voyaging overseas need an International Voyage Certificate (pleasure craft) from Maritime NZ and a Category 1 Certificate from Yachting NZ.
We can liaise with skippers to try to align inspections.
Maritime NZ is coordinating processes to increase efficiency, while balancing the overall costs of the IVC. Our guidance and processes will be reviewed regularly, and changes will be communicated to the boating community.
We want to be as helpful as possible, within our legal requirements. We also need to structure the process in a way that keeps fees cost-effective for skippers.
Maritime NZ considered options for its Director to continue to meet legal obligations of Section 21 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994. This included potentially using third party assessors.
The current model that does not consider third-party assessments was chosen as it best meets the legal requirements placed on Maritime NZ’s Director.
The vessel assessment part of IVC application processing is not a specialist survey. It is for the purpose of checking if vessels are adequate for an intended journey and are not at a level that requires a specialist for each vessel type.
Lone skippers may obtain an IVC if Maritime NZ Assessors are assured that they can comply with all Maritime Rules, such as lookout and collision avoidance.
If you have a foreign flagged vessel, you will have to meet the requirements of your flag and notify the Director of Maritime NZ of your intention to depart New Zealand. You can do this by completing the form on our website here.
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