Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) is undertaking a fundamental review of qualifications and operational limits (QOL Review).
Why?
- To better support New Zealand’s commercial maritime sector, which is a key contributor to our economy.
- To provide relevant qualifications and appropriate operational limits to meet sector needs while ensuring the safety of vessels and their crew, passengers and freight.
- To remove barriers to attracting and retaining skilled and experienced people in the face of a worldwide skills shortage in the commercial maritime sector.
- To make the qualifications and operational framework easier to understand and administer.
What?
- A clean slate review of qualifications and operational limits for New Zealand commercial maritime operations.
- The review is the first step in a long-term programme to rationalise and update maritime qualifications and better align them with operational limits.
- The QOL Review will deliver a new qualifications and operational limits framework, along with recommendations for implementation, including proposed changes to maritime rules.
- Rules likely to be impacted by the review include: Maritime Rule Part 32 (ships’ personnel – qualifications) any associated changes to Rule Part 20 (operating limits), Rule Parts 31 A, B and C (crewing and watchkeeping), Rule Part 34 (medical standards) and Rule Part 35 (training and examinations).
The review covers:
- qualifications, operational limits, examinations, quality assurance and crewing levels
- all on-the-water commercial maritime operations
- interfaces with non-commercial operations.
The review does not cover:
- resolution of labour supply problems
- resolution of industry recruitment problems
- development of rules, processes, systems and organisation structures (these will be covered in subsequent implementation of the new framework).
Who?
- Maritime New Zealand is leading the QOL Review with widespread input from the maritime community.
- QOL Review Project Manager is Andrew Clapham who was appointed in November to finalise the review and lead the implementation and transition to the new framework. Andrew has a blend of public and private sector experience, gained from working across a range of different organisations in New Zealand and South Australia. New to the maritime sector, he has a passion for turning policy intent into operational reality and is experienced at driving significant reform.
- QOL Review Principal Maritime Advisor is John Mansell, former MNZ General Manager Maritime Operations. With experience as a master mariner at sea, time in the fishing industry, head of MNZ’s Safe Ship Management System for 10 years and manager of MNZ’s Licensing Team for four years, John has in-depth knowledge of New Zealand’s maritime sector.
How?
- MNZ wants to give everyone in the maritime sector the opportunity to have their say on how to improve the current QOL framework.
- There will be extensive engagement and consultation with the maritime community.
When?
- The new framework will be designed over the next 2 years with widespread input from the maritime community.
QOL Review Timeline
April to September 2010 – Development and testing of new framework
27 September 2010 – Proposed framework released for consultation
4 to 29 October 2010 – National roadshow to present proposed framework
19 November 2010 – Submissions on proposed framework close
February to March 2011 – Fine-tuned proposal reviewed by industry representatives, as required
April 2011 – New qualifications and operational limits framework delivered
1 June 2011 – New qualifications and operational limits framework published on MNZ website
