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Securing points on road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles

Securing points on road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles to be carried on roll on/ roll off ships that are over 45 metres in length. 

Road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles on roll‑on roll‑off (ro‑ro) ships must be able to be secured to the ship. Unsecured vehicles can cause injuries to people and damage to cargo or the ship during a voyage. In some circumstances, such as extremely bad weather, movement of unsecured cargo, including vehicles, can affect the stability of the ship and cause it to list or capsize. 

This position statement clarifies: 

  • which road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles on ro‑ro ships must have securing points that meet a specified New Zealand Standard 

  • requirements for securing points to be readily and safely accessible. 

When securing points must meet the New Zealand Standard 

Under specific circumstances the law requires road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles being carried on a ro‑ro ship to have securing points that meet a New Zealand Standard. 

Maritime Rules Part 24B requires shippers of a road freight, road tank, or road livestock vehicle to ensure that: 

  • the vehicle has securing points if it is to be carried on a New Zealand or foreign ro‑ro ship of 45 metres or more that undertakes coastal or international voyages after loading cargo at a New Zealand port, and 

  • the securing points on the vehicle comply with the requirements in Part 2 of New Zealand Standard NZS 5444:2005, Load anchorage for vehicles, except that: 

  • the requirement for load‑carrying road vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 40 tonnes (gross vehicle mass) to have securing points does not apply to those being freighted for delivery purposes without payload. 

Part 24B alters application of the Standard so that securing point requirements apply to all road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles with a gross mass of 3.5 tonnes or more. 

Maritime NZ’s expectations for securing points 

We expect road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles with a gross mass of 3.5 tonnes or more that are carried on ro‑ro ships of 45 metres or more to meet the requirements below. 

Shippers must ensure that all such vehicles, with or without a load, that are to be carried on a ro‑ro ship of 45 metres or more undertaking coastal or international voyages after loading at a New Zealand port: 

  • have securing points, and 

  • have securing points that meet NZS 5444:2005, including requirements that securing points: 

  • are clearly marked 

  • are located to ensure effective restraint of the vehicle by lashings 

  • allow lashings to be readily and safely attached. 

Readily and safely attached means access to securing points must: 

  • not be obstructed by anything 

  • be within easy reach of the crew. 

Key terms

Roll on / Roll off ship

A roll-on roll-off ship is a ship that has ro-ro cargo spaces.

Shipper

A shipper is any person who offers goods for carriage by sea, and includes any person who arranges carriage of goods by sea on behalf of another person.
Securing points on road freight, road tank, and road livestock vehicles to be carried on roll on/ roll off ships that are over 45 metres in length.
PDF: 233kB, 2 pages
Position Statement PS 03 (opens in new tab)