Maritime Carol

Each Survey is a dedicated safety check for the vessel & its equipment. Some years a survey is more extensive than others. Here's six steps to save time and money on survey: 1. Check Certificate of Survey  expiry dates for Compass, Radio and any Exemptions. 2. Refer to Survey Plan to see what is required this time/year.     If necessary, prepare to have the shaft crack tested. 3. Check Safety Equipment List to ensure that everything named is on board, current and operational. Life-jackets: Check each one has a whistle, secure straps and then lay them out for easy inspection. Personal Flotation Devices : Check that inflatable PFD's have a current certificate. Life Buoys: Ensure the MOB light is working, reflector tape is adequate and name of vessel is clearly marked on each buoy. Emergency Steering:  Single screw vessels - locate emergency tiller/steering equipment. Flares: Make them available and get new ones if they have expired. Charts: ...

Two years... Ring fenced ticketed seafarers need a Medical Certificate TWO years after receiving their card. Here's four easy steps to getting your Medical Certificate 1.  Go to: https//www.maritimenz.govt.nz/.../certi.../forms-guidelines.asp  and print off the Medical Examination form and Certificate of Medical Fitness form. 2. Complete Section 1 Seafarer declaration, then make an appointment with your doctor. 3. Take both forms to the doctor for him/her to complete. 4. Send completed Certificate of Medical Fitness to MNZ. And there you have it - four easy steps to getting your Medical Certificate sorted. Easy :-)

The Maintenance checks are done, drills completed as they should be, crew training up to date, everyone knows what they have to do, the punters are ashore and its time to relax. Time for a bit of 'me time'. Time to charge YOUR batteries. If something happened now, everything is in order. Yes, It's a good feeling when everything's up to date.

A Search And Rescue (SAR) person is a volunteer role usually filled by a partner or family member.  They routinely take Trip Reports as the land based personnel and they're the ones who worry if you don't return when you said you would. In the event of an emergency they need the who, when, where, what and how of the situation and they need it immediately. Having this information to hand in a beautifully presented Trip Report book is the perfect way to say Thank You to your SAR person. Personalised Trip Report books are available at a cost of $NZ 25.00 (includes NZ p& p) from:  carolfour@xtra.co.nz   Please add $NZ 10.00 if you want chocolate included.

Promotion:      Social media is huge - don't let it pass you by.                                                    Social marketing is definitely worthwhile. Even a simple facebook page can promote your business. Use facebook marketing - their prices are good and you can fix your target range.  Here's another idea to make your own: Make a facebook search for your location.  (Wanaka, Paihia, Great Barrier etc)                           When you see public posts with your location consider sending the person a message like this:   'Hi, we see you're in ... ....today.    We're just along the beach/wharf and are leaving in an hour/tomorrow to go to ........   If you'd like to join us, show us this message and we'll ...

The second installment in gaining more customers and enjoying your chartering more... 2. Look at your customer...   Think customer satisfaction and how you can serve them best.  Who is our niche market?   (Think out of the square - disabled, cat lovers, farmers, rest homes, art groups, real estate agents, church groups, eco warriors etc)                                                   Consider your own/friends groups & adapt a charter to your customers interests.    What can you teach your customer?  (Fishing, local history, wildlife info, sandboarding) When you're passionate about your specific charter customers, it will show and who wants to waste their life doing mediocre charters anyway? Where will they park?  Offer parking advice - give parking voucher if possible. Nobody wants to have their...

We all know we're the best, but whats so special about our charter anyway? Customers will come from far and near if you've got something special. Here's a five suggestions to raise your profile and gain more customers: 1. Look at yourself...    Anything to be different and memorable is important.  What can we do to be the best and stand out from the crowd?  Simple things like using fresh bait rather than frozen, fresh croissants/fruit rather than muffins will make a basic charter better..  What is the customers first impression?  A dirty wharf covered in bird sh*t isn't a good look, neither is anything broken or wonky.  A wet seat in the dinghy is to be avoided too.  How you dress says a lot about your operation - Ripped and ragged clothing is not a good look for a sharp maritime operation.     When crew interact with the customer are they friendly and knowledgeable? A friendly crew member can make or break th...