Crewing Requirements
New Zealand is party to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
SOLAS requires all ships to be sufficiently and appropriately crewed for safe operation and provides for minimum safe crewing documents.
The owner, master or any person who has responsibility for the ship must ensure crewing levels are sufficient for the safe operation of the ship. This is done by assessing the circumstances and conditions that the ship is, and will be, operating in.
This means doing a minimum safe crewing assessment (crewing assessment) in line with the requirements in Part 31, which includes ensuring appropriate watchkeeping arrangements and principles.
In doing the crewing assessment, the master or responsible person must have also identified and taken into account risks, including (but not limited to) the area the ship is operating in, the weather, sea conditions and the type of cargo being carried.