Maritime NZ, New Zealand’s shipping safety agency, announced the opening of a consultation on 6 November, on changes to the maritime levy and fees. Among others, the agency is considering changing seafarer certification fees that currently range from $372 to $1105 to a single fee of $368, with the balance from the Maritime Levy. The review seeks to ensure that the appropriate funding is in place for the next six years.
Maritime NZ is primarily looking for feedback on four key things in this consultation:
- a revised allocation method for the Maritime Levy
- changing seafarer certification fees that currently range from $372 to $1105 to a single fee of $368, with the balance from the Maritime Levy
- moving routine domestic audit fees into the Maritime Levy
- a single hourly rate of $245 for activities charged based on actual time taken, rather than the six rates ranging from $231 to $313 we have now.
The proposals have come about as a result of how the organisation has developed over last six years, but also from feedback from industry and independent economic advisors during the lead up to this consultation.
The agency suggests that revising the allocation method for the Maritime Levy would ensure the levy is fair, transparent and easy to administer.
In addition, having one lower fixed fee for all seafarer certifications would allow us to lower the potential barriers to people wanting to work in the industry and to simplify the application process,
…says Maritime NZ Director Keith Manch.
Other potential benefits of the proposals include MOSS operators and domestic SOLAS vessel operators seeing the fees for routine audits moved into the Maritime Levy, so they are treated the same as foreign operators.
