Section 31 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 requires the master/skipper of a New Zealand ship, or foreign ship in New Zealand waters, to notify Maritime NZ of any accident, incident or serious harm injury as soon as practicable. This requirement includes recreational vessels.
This section also requires any person who operates, maintains or services a New Zealand ship or foreign ship in New Zealand waters to notify Maritime NZ of any accident, incident or serious harm injury, involving that ship, as soon as practicable.
Similarly, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires any person conducting a business or undertaking to notify Maritime NZ when a notifiable event occurs that involves a New Zealand worker on any ship.
Failing to comply with a requirement to notify is an offence.
Collection, storage and use of personal information by Maritime New Zealand
Information collected may be used for improving the safety of maritime operations in New Zealand, and also to assess whether further action needs to be taken by Maritime New Zealand in relation to the mishap, incident or accident. If another agency has a role in considering mishaps, incidents and accidents, Maritime New Zealand may share the information, for example with Regional Council Harbourmasters or New Zealand Police.
Maritime New Zealand is required to maintain a registry of notifications made under section 31. Please be aware that non-identifying information about the notifications may be published on Maritime New Zealand’s website.
To perform its roles and functions under the Maritime Transport Act, Health and Safety at Work Act, Ship Registration Act and Maritime Security Act, Maritime New Zealand is required at times to collect and use personal information.
In accordance with the Privacy Act, Maritime New Zealand will collect personal information directly from the individual the information is about whenever possible. There may be times when Maritime New Zealand is permitted by the Privacy Act to collect personal information from third parties. Maritime New Zealand may also collect personal information that is publicly available.
Maritime New Zealand only collects personal information when it is necessary to achieve its lawful functions. Personal information is only used for purposes consistent with the reasons it was collected.
Maritime New Zealand has reasonable safeguards to protect personal information against loss and unauthorised access, use, modification, or disclosure.
You may request removal of your personal information at any time.
Disclosure of personal information by Maritime New Zealand Maritime
New Zealand only discloses personal information to third parties when authorised by the individual or permitted by the Privacy Act 2020 or otherwise required or permitted by law.
Accessing personal information
You have the right to request access to personal information about you held by Maritime New Zealand under the Privacy Act.
You also have the right to request correction of any personal information held about you by Maritime New Zealand. Maritime New Zealand will take reasonable steps to correct that information and to ensure that the information we hold is correct.
If you wish to access or correct personal information Maritime New Zealand holds about you, please contact:
The Privacy Officer
Maritime New Zealand
PO Box 25620
Wellington 6146
or by phone on +64 4 473 0111.
