From 1 January 2008, any heavy vehicle which does not have suitable secure cargo lashings fitted will be refused access on to Cook Strait ferries and other roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) vessels.

Why has the new requirement been introduced?

The new rule has been introduced by Maritime New Zealand in response to international maritime safety concerns, following a number of accidents and injuries caused by unsecured loads at sea.

Who does the rule apply to?

From 1 January 2008, Maritime Rules Part 24B.10(2) requires all road freight, road tank and road livestock vehicles with a gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes to have secure lashing points fitted in accordance with the International Standard ISO 9367-1, so that they can be properly fastened during transit on all ro-ro vessels. All other vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must already have suitable lashing points fitted to travel.

Why do I need to have lashing points fitted?

Currently, many heavy vehicles aren’t fitted with secure lashing points, or if they are, they are often placed too low, which means they cannot be properly secured. This has resulted in some vehicles moving during rough weather, causing some major damage and potentially resulting in a serious injury or worse. The minimum lashing strength needs to be at least 10 tonnes.

What happens after 1 January 2008 if I still don’t comply?

Those who do not comply with the requirement after 1 January will be refused access on board ro-ro vessels by the ship’s master.

What do the lashing points look like?

The lashing points comprise a metal loop permanently fixed to the vehicle’s chassis. The size of the vehicle determines how many lashing points are required. The hole inside the metal loop must be no smaller than 80mm in diameter (see diagram below).