New Zealand Shipping Federation executive director Annabel Young said the varying frequency and extent of surveys between ports, as well as a lack of data sharing, means onboard pilots and vessel masters could therefore be working from differing data.
Ms Young said her members were also concerned about the safety and economic impacts related to the requirement for vessels to maintain a 15% under-keel clearance in Category C ports.
“If you don’t have good hydrography data, you basically go in and out on a high tide – so it is the economic impact of operating in a narrower window,” said Ms Young.
Confirming the 2004-published Guidelines of Good Practice for Hydrographic Surveys in New Zealand Ports and Harbours is in the throes of being updated, Maritime New Zealand spokesperson Mark Dittmer nonetheless indicated ports would retain relative autonomy.
“As noted in the original guidelines, due to the varied nature of New Zealand’s coastline, the frequency and method of hydrographic surveys should be decided by risk assessments undertaken by each port and harbour, rather than by rigid timeframes or criteria,” he said.