Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025 (No 3). These amendments came into force on 28 January 2026.
Maritime Rules Part 40A - Design, Construction and Equipment - Non-SOLAS Passenger Ships
Current version of Part 40A
This rule applies to:
- Commercial ships which are:
- restricted-limit motor ships carrying any passengers
- motor ships of less than 45 metres in length which carry more than 12 passengers and proceed beyond restricted limits but not beyond the offshore limit
- conventional craft used as passenger ferries, excursion ships, water taxis and recreational fishing boats
- boats of 6 metres or less in length which are used only for recreational diving purposes
- high-speed craft that exceed 35 metres in length and proceed beyond restricted limits
- hire-and-drive boats of more than 3.5 metres in length including houseboats.
The three sections of Part 40A are divided as follows:
- section 1 deals with the design, construction and safety equipment requirements of conventional craft used as passenger ferries, excursion ships, water taxis and recreational fishing boats. Under this section, boats of 6 metres or less in length which are used only for recreational diving purposes may comply with a code of practice contained in an appendix to Part 40A and an approved safe operational plan as an alternative to joining a Safe Ship Management system.
- section 2 deals with high-speed craft, incorporating requirements from the IMO High-Speed Craft Code where such ships exceed 35 metres in length and proceed beyond restricted limits.
- section 3 deals with hire-and-drive boats of more than 3.5 metres in length including houseboats.
History of Part 40A
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025 (No 2). These amendments came into force on 1 December 2025.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Amendments 2025. These amendments came into force on 21 April 2025.
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 Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2016 in November 2016.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2015, in 2015.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2014 in 2015.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Part 40A, Part 40C, Part 40D, Part 40E, Part 40F, and Part 42A: Amendment 2014 in August 2014.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Parts 19 and 44: Consequential Amendments in 2014.
Amendment
This part was amended by Parts 20, 31, 32, 34 and 35: Consequential Amendments in 2014.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 82: Commercial Jet Boat Operations - River, in 2012.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Various Amendments 2011, in 2011.
Amendment
This Part was amended by Maritime Rules Part 21-80 in 2009.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Various Amendments Rules in Parts 20-91 in 2008.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime (EPIRBS) Amendment Rules in 2006.
Amendment
This part was amended by Maritime Rules Parts 20-90 in 2004.
New part comes into force
Part 40A entered into force on 1 February 2001.
New part signed
Part 40A was signed into law by the Transport Minister on 18 December 2000.