Notice Title

Notice of Exemption From the Maritime Rules and Marine Protection Rules

Publication Date
15 Jan 2026

Tags

Maritime Transport Act Marine protection/maritime rules Maritime New Zealand

Notice Number

2026-au155
Title
View PDF
File Type and Size
PDF (40 KB)

Pursuant to sections 40AA(5) and 395(5) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, the Director of Maritime New Zealand notifies that exemptions from specified requirements in the Maritime and Marine Protection Rules have been granted. These exemptions were granted under sections 40AA(1)(a) and 395(1)(a) of the Act during the period from 21 November 2025 to 8 December 2025 (inclusive).

Rule Part

Rule Numbers

Requirement

Total

Exempted (person, ship, or product)

Maritime Transport Operator – Certification and Responsibilities

19.3

Requirement to hold Maritime Transport Operator Certificate only in respect to the vessel, Manapou, 3.8-metre LOA Inflatable Rescue Boat being used for the purpose of water safety and standby response during the Splore Festival 2026.

1

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 23 February 2026

Owner: Wai Ika Limited and applicant of Exemption EXA-1379

Vessel: Manapou (MNZ 144501)

Requirement to hold Maritime Transport Operator Certificate.

1

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 16 February 2026

Exempt: Waka Ama New Zealand Inc.

Vessels: vessels between 3 and 12 meters length used only for the purpose of being support/safety vessels for the Takapuna Beach Cup event on 13 to 15 February 2026

1

Exemption dated: 26 November 2025

Valid from: 1 February 2026 until 28 February 2026

Owner: Catalano Shipping Services NZ

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel (IMO #): Teleost (IMO 1006219)

19.41(b)

Requirements for the Maritime Transport Operator Plan includes the details, safe operating procedures and other procedures required by the Appendix only in respect to Appendix Maritime Transport Operator Plan: Details and procedures 1.1.4 – category or categories and the activity or activities of maritime transport operation that will be conducted under the Maritime Transport Operator Certificate - only in respect to activity of relocation operation – international.

1

Exemption dated: 3 December 2025

Valid until exemption expires on the sooner of:

  • the date of relocation operation from Denmark to New Zealand is completed, or
  • 2 December 2026

Maritime Transport Operator: DW New Zealand Limited

Vessel (MNZ #): DW Nova (MNZ 144045)

19.62(1)

A ship must have a valid Certificate of Survey issued under rule 44.41 before it can be operated.

3

Exemption dated: 26 November 2025

Valid from: 1 February 2026 until 28 February 2026

Owner: Catalano Shipping Services NZ

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel (IMO #): Teleost (IMO 1006219)

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 16 February 2026

Exempt: Waka Ama New Zealand Inc.

Vessels: vessels between 3 and 12 meters length used only for the purpose of being support/safety vessels for the Takapuna Beach Cup event on 13 to15 February 2026

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 23 February 2026

Owner: Wai Ika Limited and applicant of Exemption EXA-1379

Vessel: Manapou (MNZ 144501), a 3.8-metre Inflatable Rescue Boat being used for the purpose of water safety and standby response during the Splore Festival 2026

Carriage of Cargoes – Stowage and Securing

24B.10(2)

Roll on/roll off ships – shipper of a road freight, road tank, or road livestock vehicles must not offer the vehicle for shipment on a ro-ro ship unless it is fitted with vehicle securing points and marked with an information plate.

1

Exemption dated: 8 December 2025

Valid until: 19 December 2025

Shipper: Treadlite NZ Limited

Road freight vehicle: QTQ521

Crewing and Watchkeeping

31.84(2), Table 11

Minimum crewing requirements in Table 11 for passenger ships operating within enclosed water limits, ship length less than 24m, passengers on board 20 to 99, and for the Master to hold a passenger endorsement.

1

Exemption dated: 21 November 2025

Valid from: 30 November 2025 until 29 November 2030

Owner: Mercury Bay Ferries Limited

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel(s) (MNZ #):

  • Whitianga Ferry (MNZ 135640)
  • Mercury Star (MNZ 143107)

31.84(2)

Minimum crewing requirements as per Minimum Safe Crewing Document for other passenger or non-passenger ships, as specified in tables and flowcharts only in respect to requirement for Master to hold a Skipper Restricted limits certificate of competency when operating in restricted limits.

1

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 16 February 2026

Exempt: Waka Ama New Zealand Inc.

Vessels: vessels between 3 and 12 meters length used only for the purpose of being support/safety vessels for the Takapuna Beach Cup event on 13 to 15 February 2026

1

Exemption dated: 24 November 2025

Valid until: 23 February 2026

Owner: Wai Ika and applicant of Exemption EXA-1379

Vessel: Manapou (MNZ 144501), a 3.8-metre Inflatable Rescue Boat being used for the purpose of water safety and standby response during the Splore Festival 2026

Seafarer Certification

32.10(1)

Requirement to hold certificate and associated endorsements only in respect to requirement of the Master to hold a passenger endorsement.

1

Exemption dated: 21 November 2025

Valid from: 30 November 2025 until 29 November 2030

Owner: Mercury Bay Ferries Limited

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel(s) (MNZ #):

  • Whitianga Ferry (MNZ 135640)
  • Mercury Star (MNZ 143107)

32.112, Table 27

Master yacht certificate of competency as per STCW certificate under regulation II/2 of STCW and requirements in Table 27 – only in respect to completion of approved sea service (4(a) and (b)).

1

Exemption dated: 27 November 2025

Valid until: 12 December 2025

Holder: Holder of Master Yacht, Watchkeeper Deck, GMDSS Radio Operator, and Chief Mate Yacht certificates of competency

Design, Construction and Equipment – Passenger Ships which are not SOLAS Ships

40A.19(2)

Egress requirements for a permitted passenger compartment only in respect to no such means of egress may have a clear width of opening of less than 750mm.

1

Exemption dated: 28 November 2025

Valid from: 2 December 2025 until 1 December 2030

Owner: Real Journeys Limited

Vessel (MNZ #): Titiroa (MNZ 134136)

40A.59(b)

Post-27 May 2004 ships of less than 24 metres must have anchors and cables in accordance with requirements of Tables 2A, 2B, or 2C of Appendix 7 – only in respect to requirement to carry two anchors in accordance with Table 2(C) Note 2, specifically:

Appendix 7 Anchors and cables – Anchor weights (kgs) for ships operating in enclosed waters only – Above the underlined figures in Table 2, one anchor is required, below the underlined figure two anchors are required.

1

Exemption dated: 28 November 2025

Valid from: 2 December 2025 to 1 December 2030

Owner: Real Journeys Limited

Vessel (MNZ #): Titiroa (MNZ 134136)

Design, Construction and Equipment – SOLAS Ships

40B.17

Passenger ships – fire appliances that comply with all applicable requirements of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS only in respect to Reg 10.3.3 – 3.3 Spare Charges.

1

Exemption dated: 1 December 2025

Valid from 23 December 2025 until 22 December 2030

Owner: Kiwirail Limited

Vessel(s) (MNZ #):

  • Kaitaki (MNZ 133928),
  • Kaiarahi (MNZ 135152)

Safety Equipment – Fire Appliances Performance Standards

42B.57(7)

Portable fire extinguishers - Specific requirements for ships to which Part 40B applies, to carry spare charges or replacement extinguishers.

1

Load Lines

47.8(2)(a)

Compliance with rule Part 47 and the provisions of Articles 2, 3, 7, 10 to 15, Annex I and Annex II of the Load Line Convention 1966 ndash; only in respect to ICLL Annex I, Regulation 15(1) – minimum height of hatchway coamings; and ICLL Annex I, Regulations 25(2) – height of bulwarks, and (3) ndash; opening below the lowest course of guard rails.

1

Exemption dated: 3 December 2025

Valid until: 2 December 2030

Owner: Seaworks Limited

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel (MNZ #): Seapatroller (MNZ 132816)

Mandatory Ships Routeing

190.3(2)

Owner, charterer and master of a ship to which this rule applies must not cause or allow the ship to enter the Poor Knights area in transit.

1

Exemption dated: 2 December 2025

Valid from: 8 December 2025 until 12 December 2025

Owner: Thirty Seven South Limited

Master: Master of vessel

Vessel (IMO #): Ethereal (IMO 1009429)