Maritime Carol

It began with sailing ships and their need for tall masts and straight spars.   Then steamers from Helensville to Dargaville via remote settlements, early bush camps and mill towns.  Today its recreational and the occasional commercial fisherman or charter vessel that churn the green grey waters of the Kaipara Harbour.   This west coast harbour is a study in contrasts.   Macrocarpa, pohutukawa, and mangroves line the shore while young kauri rickets add interest to the landscape.   Strategically placed port and starboard markers tell a story to those who know the sea.    Cemeteries, steep red roofed churches and place names tell graphic stories.   In the wheelhouse owner/operator Terry Somers shares his love of these waterways with tales of tall ships, rail-heads and sand dredging. Behind him, a small white lace curtain adds a touch of home as it moves in response to the gentle sea breeze.  Large shiny kettles crowd the gas stove i...

Forty one years ago today (2nd March 1976) Spirit of Adventure departed Marsden Wharf on her first trip to Whangarei, her new Certificate of Survey now allowing Restricted Home Trade Limits - North Cape to East Cape.       I'd arrived at 6am as ring-in cook, to be met by a trainee in the passageway by the galley.   'Are you the cook? ' she asks. 'Yes, ' I gulp, 'I guess I am.'         "What are we having for breakfast then?" she asks. I had no idea what food was even on the ship let alone what we were going to eat and when. We muddled through, sailing to Great Barrier that morning. My first tall ship voyage I must confess - I was seasick. When someone suggested mince for dinner I nearly threw up on the deck. However I was soon infected with the spirit of adventure and served as cook for many more trips. Voyage 54 was also all girls - their theme song (sung to the Wombles tune) says it all: Mr Lou Fisher donated this boat ...

Two brothers - Peter & Andrew - were set netting in the lake. They weren't letting the line run through their fingers and if it got tangled they weren't going to do anything until the net stopped. Then they heard someone  calling out to them. " Come with me and I will teach you to catch men."  Even tho they were so focused on what they were doing, they knew this was the better option.  Immediately they stopped the nets and went ashore.  James & John were fishing on the boat with their father Zebedee .  The first set of floats had just hit the water w hen James & John heard someone   calling them too.    ( After years of no ear protection Zebedee didn't hear the call.)    The last thing  Zebedee saw of the boys, they were walking along the beach with Peter, Andrew & Jesus.  The four fishermen went all over Galilee with  Jesus   when he was teaching in the synagogues and preaching...

The bow dipped, the bilge alarm came on and we were obviously taking on water...   Three years ago contract skipper Brian Climo departed Westhaven on a routine dolphin & whale watching trip.     Dreamweaver's thirty six passengers and four crew had heard the safety briefing, seen the life jacket demonstration and a trip report had been given.       The 23rd February, 2015 was no different than any other Dreamweaver charter and they were soon steaming around North Head towards TiriTiri Matangi.    The crew had worked together before and at the end of each trip they'd socialize over a beer or two.    After thirty five years at sea, Brian knew the Hauraki Gulf well and was confident of his skills as a skipper.    He knew Dreamweaver had a current Survey Certificate but didn't know that her bow section had previously been repaired three times.     As the day progressed, lun...

If Matapouri is for the surfer and Tutukaka the game fisherman, Ngunguru River is perfect for a river cruise - bush lined, peaceful and home to so much history it should be declared 'a must do'. This former scow infested river is definitely historic, and as we motor upstream mine workers cottages soon give way to rimu, totara and manuka trees mixed with willows and ferns. It's two hours before high tide.   "We'll just feel our way up." says Capt Percy. I'm on board MV Kiteawa a 24' luxury pontoon boat 'fully surveyed for a maximum of fifteen passengers' and we're spending 3-4 hours exploring the river. Capt Percy is an expert on this area and points out former tram lines, hidden bridge abutments and a rusty scotch boiler.   "From as early as 1892 these coal mines and clay quarries serviced Auckland needs..." he says as he paints word pictures reminding us how things once were. Facts and figures, stories and...

The maritime industry is full of changes, there have been so many over such a short time. If we are out of date, we are living in the past, and we must move with the times. Here's how to tell if you are 'out of date': 1.  You refer to MNZ (Maritime New Zealand) as MSA (Maritime Safety Authority). Ten years ago MSA changed to MNZ. 2.  You try to sell a commercial vessel saying it is in SSM (Safe Ship Management). If it actually still has a current SSM Certificate, it is so close to expiring that its hardly worth mentioning. All maritime transport operators are deemed to be in MOSS (Maritime Operator Safety System) anyway. 3. You refer to a vessel as being in MOSS (Maritime Operator Safety System) A vessel isn't in MOSS, the operator is. Vessels are 'in survey' like a vehicle has a Warrant of Fitness (WOF) 4. If you sell a vessel, and don't tell MNZ. If a vehicle is sold, a Change of Ownership form is filled out. If a vessel is sold, MNZ nee...

Logbooks are the official record of events on board ship as well as of the ship movements.  Over the years, I've seen many ship's logbooks - some large, others small, some falling to bits and others totally useless for their intended job. When I started Maritime Compliance I saw the need for customised vessel specific logboooks, so I designed two logbook templates ( single and twin screw).  The cover showcases the vessel and the logbooks are printed and bound by the local printer.  Two books are printed each time which means there is one ready for use when the first one is filled up. When I was given a blurred image for the cover of a logbook, I knew it wouldn't reproduce well, so there was nothing for it, but to get out my sketch pad and pencil once again. Kirikiriroa (above) became that logbook and I had one happy customer. The tugboat was printed in 'Tales of the Riverbank', a local calendar and Silens became a prized bulkhead print. It's gr...