Time running out to fit stronger heavy vehicle lashing points

Under Maritime Rules Part 24B, heavy vehicle owners and operators have until 1 January 2008 to ensure that any road freight, road tank or road livestock vehicle with a gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes has the proper lashing points fitted.  The lashing points, which are usually comprised of metal loops or hooks fixed to the vehicle’s chassis, allow a vehicle to be tied down securely during transit, and must be constructed to appropriate international maritime strength and safety standards.  All other vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must already have suitable lashing points fitted to travel.

“The problem currently is that many heavy vehicles covered by the rule either aren’t fitted with the right type of lashing points, or have them fitted in the wrong place, which means the vehicle cannot be properly secured. This has resulted in some vehicles moving during rough weather, causing some major damage and potentially resulting in serious injury or worse.”

Mr Mansell said MNZ had given fair warning to industry that any vehicles covered by the rule that did not have the correct lashings fitted by the cut off date of 1 January faced being turned away from wharves and ferry terminals.

“Since the new rule was introduced in June 2005, owners and operators have had plenty of time to get their vehicles up to scratch, with MNZ already extending the grace period by six months to give them time to comply. We’ve also been working very closely alongside the trucking industry and ferry and shipping companies, who have been making a concerted effort to ensure that their clients understand what is required, so ignorance of the rule is no excuse.”

Mr Mansell said checks by MNZ’s Safety Audit Team at New Zealand ferry terminals over the last few months showed that while most owners and operators were well aware of the requirement, many vehicles covered by the rule were still non-compliant or only partly compliant.

“The simple message is that heavy vehicles to which the rule applies need to have the proper lashing points fitted if they want to travel on any roll-on roll-off vessel from 1 January. Any vehicle which is not fitted with the required lashing points can expect to be refused access by the ship’s master.”