Overview of maritime and marine protection rules

Maritime and marine protection rules contain detailed technical standards and procedures and form part of New Zealand’s maritime law.

The legal basis for rules

The maritime and marine protection rules are statutory instruments (or secondary legislation) made by the Minister of Transport under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

While the Maritime Transport Act stipulates broad principles of maritime law, the rules contain detailed technical standards and procedures. Compliance with the rules is required because they form part of New Zealand maritime law. Failure to comply with the rules may be an offence under the act.

Maritime New Zealand has the power to make emergency rules in certain circumstances, under the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

Maritime rules

Maritime rules relate to the safety of ships and people. The rules prescribe requirements for ship design, construction, equipment, crewing, operation and tonnage measurement, and for the carriage of passengers and cargoes. Many of the standards are based on international ship safety conventions.

Marine protection rules

Marine protection rules aim to prevent the disposal of waste and marine pollution from ships. Marine protection rules implement international conventions and standards. These rules regulate:

dumping of waste at sea
oil spill contingency plans
controls in relation to harmful substances