Your safety system – vessels under 500GT
The safety management system for domestic vessels in New Zealand is divided into the following categories:
- Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS), which covers most New Zealand owned and operated vessels
- Safe Operational Plans (SOPs), covering smaller specialist vessels and their operations
- Safety Cases, covering operations using Novel Craft which do not fit under other Maritime Rules
- Specified Limits Permits, which cover commercial operations within restricted areas.
Learn more about these safety systems
Some commercial vessels in New Zealand are required to meet SOLAS safety standards
Some commercial vessels operating in New Zealand that are not SOLAS under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea are required to meet the safety standards of a SOLAS ship. These vessels must be in class and have an ISM Code safety management system in place.
These vessels are:
- a passenger ship of 45 metres or more in length that proceeds beyond restricted limits
- a non-passenger ship of 45 metres or more in length that proceeds beyond restricted limits
- a self-propelled mobile offshore drilling unit of 500 tons gross tonnage or more.
SOLAS ships, including non-SOLAS vessels that are in the above list, are subject to Maritime Rules Part 21, section 1, and Maritime Rules Part 40B.