2026
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025 (No 3). These amendments came into force on 31 March 2026.
Maritime Rules Part 32 - Seafarer Certification
Current version of Part 32
This rule applies to:
- personnel on New Zealand Ships within New Zealand waters.
Understanding Part 32
Part 32 provides New Zealand’s structure for nautical and engineering certificates for seafarers. The rules provide for national certificates, as well as certificates that correspond to those provided for in the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (STCW).
Part 32 implements the seafarer certification (SeaCert) framework.
Maritime NZ is currently amending the Advisory Circulars for Maritime Rules Part 32.
Materials incorporated by reference in Part 32
The Minister of Transport signed this rule on 27 January 2014, and it came into effect on 1 April 2014.
- international convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention)
- international Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel 1995 and Resolutions (STCW-F Convention).
Getting copies of material incorporated by reference
Some materials can be accessed and viewed free online, other material is subject to copyright and can either be purchased from the original source or viewed as an electronic copy at Maritime NZ.
History of Part 32
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025 (No 2). These amendments come into force on 1 December 2025.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025. These amendments come into force on 21 April 2025, 1 September 2025 and 1 December 2025. See Maritime Rules Amendments 2025 for details.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2023. These amendments come into force on 7 February 2024.
Amendment
This part was amended by a notice in the New Zealand Gazette on 27 August 2020, noting a change to material incorporated by reference.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments on 13 December 2019.
Amendment
This Part was amended by STCW-F related amendments 2017. Amendments 10.2, 11.2, 11.3, 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2, 18.2, and 19.2 of the STCW-F , related Amendments 2017 enter into force on March 2023. All other Amendments enter into force March 2018.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments (Changes Related to Conventions) 2017, in February 2018.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2016 in November 2016.
Amendment
The amendments are to enable seafarers holding specific old or legacy certificates to ring-fence an existing certificate, transition to a new SeaCert certificate, or both. Additional amendments include the extension of the transition deadline for specific certificates and changes to the temporary seasonal endorsement.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2014 in 2015.
New part comes into force
The new Part 32 entered into force on 1 April 2014.
Amendment
The original Part 32, as amended, was revoked and replaced by a new Part 32, made on 27 January 2014.
Amendment
This part was amended by Part 31A and Part 32: Amendment 2012, in 2012.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2011, in April 2011.
Amendment
This part was amended by Part 34: Amendment 2011, with entry into force dates of 1 April 2011 and 1 January 2012.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime (Various Amendments) Rules 2009 Part 21-80 in 2009.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 32 (Foreign Going Deck Qualifications) Amendment Rules, in 2007.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 32 (Certificated Deckhand) Amendment Rules in 2006.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 32 Amendment, Class 4 Superyacht Certificates, in 2004.
Amendment
This part was first amended by Maritime Rules Part 31A, Amendment 1, in 2001.
New part comes into force
Part 32 entered into force on 22 October 1999.Timeline
New part signed
Part 32 was signed into law by the Transport Minister on 21 September 1999.