5000 ring-fenced – only two months to go

5000 ring-fenced – only two months to go

5 July 2017

Maritime NZ is saving up to 200 ‘tickets’ each week as the 1 September deadline for ring-fencing approaches. More than 5000 seafarers have ring-fenced their older and legacy certificates so they can keep using them to work.

“We’re in the home strait and encourage everyone with expiring certificates to do it,” says Maritime NZ Personnel Certification manager Lou Christensen. “It’s free and easy. Jump on the website and get started. Give us a call if you get stuck.”

Lou’s team has been wrangling applications for months now. They’ve sent VoS (Verification of Status) cards, that list a person’s ring-fenced tickets, the length of New Zealand.

“We’ve literally sent them to seafarers from Cape Reinga to the Bluff. We even hand-delivered them to Kaikoura after the earthquake,” she says.

More than 30 seafarer certificates can be saved. If a ticket has previously expired, you can revive it by requesting it be ring-fenced.

Lou says seafarers who are winding down in their careers should still ring-fence. “If there’s a chance you might want to use your tickets down the track – ring-fence them. You get to keep them and it doesn’t cost you anything.”

“Ring-fencing crosses generations – we’ve had people in their 30s right through to their 90s choose to safeguard their qualifications. Older people ring-fenced because their certificates mean something to them.”

As an added bonus, those who’ve ring-fenced can win a float free EPIRB valued at $995, by simply telling a mate by sharing Maritime NZ’s ring-fencing post on Facebook or send them an email via the Maritime NZ website. “We recommend float free EPIRBs for commercial fishermen because they save lives. You can be a lifesaver too by getting your mates to ring-fence.”

Lou says, “We’re reeling in those remaining seafarers. 5000 is a significant milestone, but we want as many people to ring-fence as possible before the cut-off on September 1. As the saying goes, ‘It ain't over till it's over.’”

Ring-fence your tickets here: www.maritimenz.govt.nz/ringfence or phone 0508 669 734

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