New Zealand Port and Harbour Marine Safety Code
The New Zealand Port and Harbour Marine Safety Code 2026
The New Zealand Port and Harbour Marine Safety Code (the Code) aims to ensure the safe management of ships navigating in New Zealand ports and harbours, and the prevention of:
- injury to people
- loss of life
- damage to the marine environment and property.
The Code is a voluntary national standard. It supports national and local legislation. The Code was reviewed and updated in 2026 and comes into effect in July 2026.
Context and purpose
Maritime NZ established the Code in 2004 to provide a quality standard of good practice for navigational risk assessment and safety management in ports and harbours. The Code was adopted by regional councils, Maritime NZ, and port operators.
In 2020, a partnership approach between Maritime NZ, port operators, and regional councils was endorsed. Achieving the Code’s objective through joint responsibility and collaborative working remains the most effective way to apply the Code consistently at a national level.
To reinforce this commitment, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed every four years. The MoU sets a governance structure supported by a dedicated secretariat and working group.
The Code sets out a framework to identify and manage navigational risk in a structured and sustainable system. It sets out good practice standards for managing common critical navigational risks, roles and responsibilities including the application of legislation and sets out the processes for developing risk assessments and safety management systems for navigational safety in our ports and harbours.
Built on a shared commitment to continuous improvement, the Code has supported safe navigation across New Zealand’s ports and harbours for more than 25 years. This commitment has never been more important as our operating environments evolve and become more complex.
We reviewed the Code in 2026, working together to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose with a firm focus on lifting the maturity of our safety management system.
The 2026 edition reflects the collective experience, expertise, and dedication of the Code community. It provides a clearer, more accessible framework to help us align our efforts and continue working constructively together for our shared purpose: safe and resilient operating environments across New Zealand’s ports and harbours.
If you wish to see an annual report from previous years, please contact us.
Additional resources
The following resources may help you implement the Code and demonstrate good marine practices. This list will be updated as further resources are found and assessed for relevance.
- Hensen, H, ‘Tug Use in Port: A Practical Guide, including ports, port approaches and offshore terminals’ 3rd Edition 2018, The ABR Company Limited
Note that, despite recommending this publication, the Code Working Group notes other equally valid resources on this subject are available.