Maritime Carol

The second world war had just finished when Dad brought a 20' narrow gutted double ended wooden launch.  Her engine was under the aft hatch and the cabin was so low that you had to crawl into it. As she had been sitting for a while, her Rugby engine was rusty and in a very sad state.   Dad nursed the engine back to life, fixing one of the holes with a saucepan repair kit. AVALON 1 was berthed at the bottom of the farm, in the mud of Hellyer's Creek, Birkdale. When Dad and Mum married they were away in the boat all the time. Sometimes they'd go up to Pine Island (Herald Island) and other times, down to Rangitoto and Waiheke Islands.     In the middle of winter, I was born. The following summer we were away in the boat, my pushchair in the dinghy.     And although the old engine let Dad down a few times, only once did he need a tow...

                On this day in 1839 (177yrs ago) the captain of the 832ton sailing barque TORY, ordered his crew to drop anchor in Ship's Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound. They had just completed a ninety six day passage from England with cargo and eight passengers on board.   TORY was the first ship dispatched by the New Zealand Company on a mission to locate and take possession of land purchased by the company in England before her departure.  Her name is forever etched into our history as the channel where the Cook Strait ferry enters the Marlborough Sounds. For the next thirty six days, they took on fresh water, food and wood, then sailing into Port Nicholson(Wellington).  Chaffers Passage in Wellington is named after her captain, Captain Edmund Mein Chaffers, a former sailing master in the Royal Navy. TORY then sailed up the west coast to Hokianga where they loaded spars.    On the 19 December...

When buying a boat, here are five things you need to ask before you get on board. 1. Why is it for sale ? This can give you an idea of the price to offer. 2. Was the boat used for fishing, offshore or pleasure and in salt water or fresh water? Depending on the previous use of the boat, it may not suit your needs. If a boat has been kept in fresh water (lakes, rivers or ponds) it is best kept in that environment. 3. Has it been surveyed or safety inspected? A marine surveyor should carry out a pre-purchase inspection before you buy the boat. They are trained to find rot, hidden damage or potential problems with the boat. For a list of MNZ recognised qualified surveyors go to:   www.maritimenz.govt.nz 4. Is the maintenance up to date and are there maintenance records? By asking this question you can judge how the boat has been cared for & what her service dates are. 5. Has the boat been involved in any maritime incidents or accidents? This is also another good w...

Tucked away in Hewlett St, Whangarei, Phoenix Boats are building another alloy barge. "This one is a 23.5m transport barge for Ponui Island and its double the size of the last barge we built." says Phoenix Boats Manager Luke Seuren. Purpose designed by Richard McBride of McBride Design Ltd, the barge will be perfect for transporting trucks, tractors and animals to and from the island. "It's a good clean design with really fast hull construction, and with the best team in the country working on it, we will have it completed by July." says Luke. "At the moment the side deck plating is open to give us light while working below." Luke has been engineering and fabricating since he left school and is proud of his full workshop " with a CNC router cutter and 100 ton brake press."     His staff of three are all skilled tradesmen including Hone Kingi (left) who is two years through his alloy boat-building apprenticeship. Marin...

Assisted Compliance It appears that we like talking to Maritime NZ officials, as per MNZ website:   “ We (MNZ) have found that even where online guidance is provided the maritime industry prefers to talk to us.” Time is money and Maritime NZ are proposing to increase the fees currently charged. “There is high demand from operators and seafarers for more direct ‘one-to-one’ assistance on MOSS and SeaCert.” ‘One-to-one assistance’ is all about getting advice and assurance that we are safe at sea.  We go to sea recording our seatime, sit and pass our tickets, and continue using what we have learnt, every day, day in and day out and yet we need assistance with a Maritime Operator Safety System? “The people who benefit from this additional work (one-on-one assistance) are not only MOSS and SeaCert users, but the maritime industry as a whole, because everyone in the industry benefits from water users around them being safe.” - MNZ. Maritime NZ are requesting fe...

SOS – Save Our Surveyors The word about town is that our Surveyors need saving.., A MNZ certified marine surveyor is a rare creature.    He is the key to running a successful maritime operation.    These are the blokes that keep an eye on the state of a vessel and through their vast experience,  they see things before they are evident to us mere mortals. Surveyors rely on a vessel operator to present his/her vessel in the best possible  manner so he can complete his task with ease.     When operators are diligent about looking after their vessel, it’s an asset and not a liability. A surveyor will often work during the day and write his reports in the evenings to get the job completed.   With the new MOSS standards, survey reports are more detailed and the operator now gets an actual report that portrays their boat – good & bad. Prior to his visit an operator should have basic engine details, stab...

Are you a power driven vessel or a vessel under sail,   Making way or Under way; Constrained by your draft, or not under command?  Maybe you are engaged in fishing or restricted in your ability to manoeuvre; The power driven vessel is like a maritime transport operator who is going somewhere.  All the paperwork is under control and its happening - fast. The operator under sail is going at a slower pace, taking their time as the clock ticks on. An operator making way is ready to get going, knows they need to get it sorted but doesn't know how to...   The operator who is underway is moving along nicely, plenty of time, paperwork under control and knows whats next. If you are an operator constrained by your draught or not under command it could involve some serious thinking on your part. Well done if you are involved in fishing for advice and my condolences if you are restricted in your ability to manoeuvre. As a Give Way vessel it is ou...