Range of initiatives continue to improve maritime safety

Initiatives underway prior to Kotuku

• MNZ has a long and close working relationship with the maritime industry and key players such as the Marine Transport Association and Federation of Commercial Fishermen, who support the work MNZ is doing to improve safety. This has resulted in the lowest number of commercial deaths (just 3) for all of 2007, compared with 18 in 1996, before SSM was implemented.
• New Zealand was the first country in the world to introduce a safety system for commercial fishing vessels, which recognises that operators are responsible for their own day to day safety.
• MNZ was instrumental in developing the FishSAFE initiative – a joint government/industry project which arose out of a working group formed with industry back in 2000 in response to concerns over a high number of accidents. Through FishSAFE, MNZ and ACC are continuing to work closely with the fishing sector to reduce accidents, leading to a significant drop (50%) in ACC accident claims, from 240 in 2003 to 120 in 2007. The successful FishSAFE model is now being extended to other parts of the maritime industry.
• Following its work with the maritime sector on the FishSAFE initiative, MNZ introduced new health and safety guidelines for fishing vessels, which were delivered by the industry to skippers and vessel owners.
• Three independent reviews have all found the philosophy of the SSM system to be sound, with some areas that needed improvement. MNZ was already responding to these issues – for example developing the SSM code of practice in 2005 to more clearly explain the roles and responsibilities of all participants in the system.
• MNZ was already conducting a significant review of the rules governing the vessel safety management system and functions of surveyors prior to Kotuku.
• The vast majority of the 3200 vessels in the SSM system are operating safely, with overall good support for the system from the maritime sector. This is supported by low accident and fatality statistics, and an average low risk rating for all vessels across the system.
• Continued education and awareness is being raised by MNZ through its safety bulletins and publications Safe Seas Clean Seas and Lookout!, along with regular contributions to various other industry publications, eg Seafood Magazine and Professional Skipper.

Actions arising out of the Kotuku accident

• MNZ is continuing to work closely with the Bluff fishing community and local iwi to raise awareness of safety issues prior to the muttonbird season – this has received excellent local support.
• MNZ immediately issued safety bulletins on the importance of skippers keeping vessel freeing ports clear and having correctly installed liferafts following the accident.
• MNZ is reviewing the SSM system as its number one strategic priority – and has dedicated resources and a project manager to it.
• The SSM review is being supported by the sector, with the expert assistance of representatives from the fishing industry, Marine Transport Association, maritime training organisations and SSM companies.
• MNZ has held compulsory training seminars throughout New Zealand where surveyors are examined to ensure competency – with more seminars/tests planned for later in the year.
• MNZ has stepped up auditing of SSM companies and spot checks of vessels to ensure high standards are maintained.
• MNZ published new safety guidelines for skippers of passenger and non-passenger vessels, based on practical experience and advice to assist with safety.
• MNZ has implemented better standardisation of forms/certificates for surveyors to help ensure greater consistency.
• MNZ have adopted all TAIC’s recommendations from its report and are well down the track in actioning these.

ENDS
MEDIA NOTE: DUE TO SUPPRESSION ORDERS PREVENTING PUBLICATION OF THE TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION REPORT INTO THE KOTUKU ACCIDENT UNTIL 1AM FRIDAY 18 APRIL, THIS MATERIAL IS ALSO SUBJECT TO EMBARGO UNTIL THAT TIME.