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Commercial Operators

Seafarers

Recreational boaties

Surveyors and third parties

Relevant conventions and rules

New Zealand is party to a range of international conventions that establish shared rules or standards for international shipping. These conventions support international cooperation, protect New Zealand's national interests and promote consistent practice across jurisdictions.

Maritime NZ’s role is to give effect to these conventions by implementing obligations into national law and ensuring they are followed in practice. This is done through several ways such as:

  • Regulating and certifying New Zealand vessels and seafarers
  • Carrying out inspections and audits
  • Monitoring compliance
  • Taking enforcement action when convention standards are not met

Conventions are developed and adopted by the International Maritime Organization (the IMO) and the International Labour Organization (the ILO). New Zealand works with both the IMO and ILO to implement the 40 conventions we are party to, including the key conventions:

  • The International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
  • The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
  • Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) and its fishing variant (STCW-F), and
  • The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

Maritime Rules and Marine Protection Rules

One of the ways Maritime NZ gives effect to international conventions we are a party to is by implementing their obligations into national law, such as through Maritime Rules and Marine Protection Rules.

Conventions and Port State Control

Maritime NZ contributes strongly to the development of conventions that support the Port State Control system with a view to ensuring that New Zealand’s interests are met as well as possible by these conventions.

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