Maritime NZ and partner regulatory agencies in New Zealand teamed up last week in a joint compliance and information-gathering operation on the carriage of dangerous goods (DG). Checks were specifically targeted to ensure that goods being carried on Cook Strait ferries were declared and compliant with safety regulations. There was good compliance from those inspected.
Spot checks were undertaken on 30 July 2019 in Wellington, Picton and Blenheim on vehicles and cargoes being loaded onto the Cook Strait ferries.
The checks aimed to determine whether dangerous goods are being loaded, transported and documented in accordance with road and maritime transport rules and regulations.
Inspections were undertaken on 88 vehicles stopped at five locations in Wellington, Picton and Blenheim and 83 of the vehicles inspected were commercial trucks.
Of the vehicles inspected, 48 of them intended to travel on a Cook Strait ferry. Of the 88 vehicles stopped 21 vehicles were carrying dangerous goods.
Dangerous goods can be carried on ferries provided they are declared and classified. The amounts and categories of dangerous goods that can be carried are limited on passenger ferry sailings in line with international and New Zealand regulations.
Police undertook inspections of vehicles and were supported by inspectors from Maritime NZ , WorkSafe , Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). Interislander and Strait NZ Bluebridge Cook Strait ferries operational staff provided cargo manifests, cargo declarations and relevant documents.
There was good compliance from those inspected and they positively engaged in the process. Everyone who was involved, including the transport companies, ferry operators and regulators are working together to ensure that dangerous goods are transported safely on road and at sea. Information from today’s exercise will be used in subsequent compliance checks as well as in other activities by regulators to ensure dangerous goods are transported safely in compliance with the law,
…noted Deputy Director Compliance Systems Delivery Pelin Fantham.
