Be alert to “dangerous wrecks” and much more!

Be alert to “dangerous wrecks” and much more!

30 June 2017

Maritime NZ will take over responsibility for issuing maritime navigational warnings to countries and vessels in the wider south west Pacific from mid-day today (Friday June 30).

From that time Maritime NZ will become the coordinator for “NAVAREA XIV”, an area of 50 million square kilometres.

The change streamlines the navigation warning system in the south west Pacific by making one organisation, Maritime NZ, responsible. Previously, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and Maritime NZ both had roles in issuing warnings, with LINZ being the NAVAREA coordinator and Maritime NZ being the national coordinator responsible for New Zealand coastal warnings.

“One organisation being responsible from beginning to end is safer for mariners,” Mr Manch said.

“Warnings to mariners will include alerting them to hazards such as dangerous wrecks, ‘large unwieldy tows in congested waters’, newly discovered rocks and reefs, changes or damage to lights and beacons, and weather,” he said.

“We will be continuing our strong partnership with LINZ, who will continue to do the vital work of hydrography and making charts [maps of the sea and coast].”

Maritime NZ will be coordinating across countries, international agencies and vessels, collating information, broadcasting warnings by satellite and maritime radio, and posted warnings at www.maritimenz.govt.nz/navarea

This work will be done at the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand and the Maritime Radio Service, which are Maritime NZ services collocated in Lower Hutt and that operate 24/7.

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