New Zealand Reflagging Process Efficient
Maritime New Zealand's recent reflagging of a foreign-chartered vessel into its registry demonstrates the system's efficiency.
The registry incorporated the Ukranian FV Mainstream, previously flagged in Dominica, into its fleet March 6, 2013 following the accomplishment of these requirements:
- ensuring the vessel and its safety systems are fully compliant with New Zealand maritime rules and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
- recognising foreign crew qualifications to the New Zealand equivalent certificate – this includes passing an oral examination to assess competence and knowledge of New Zealand requirements
- changing legal registration of the vessel from Dominica to New Zealand, which included satisfying the requirements of the Ship Registration Act 1992 that the New Zealand charterer has the ‘whole possession and control of the ship, including the right to appoint its Master and crew’.
New Zealand is currently considering legislation that would require all foreign-chartered fishing vessels to be registered nationally.
