Summary of Welded Keels Requirements
29th September 2009
The Yachting New Zealand Safety Regulations 2009-2012 which came into effect 1 January 2009 differs from the previous version in some aspects, one of them relating to welded keels. The requirements for construction and inspection of welded keels were expanded.
Boat owner, and partner at McElroys Litigation Lawyers, Matthew Flynn has written an explanatory paper for fellow boat owners which summarises the implications of the new requirements. The paper was written independently by Flynn, and he has agreed that Yachting New Zealand make it available for interested parties.
Click here to download Matthew Flynn’s paper: Welded Keels – Important Changes to the Yachting New Zealand Safety Regulations.
Note: A Yachting New Zealand appointed group of industry experts continues to work on clarifying the more recent ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Structural Plan Review.
Voyage to repair weakened keel ends in tragedy
A Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) accident investigation report has been released which outlines MNZ's findings, and important safety recommendations. The safety issues identified in this report are relevent to the marine industry and yachting community. Click here for the report.
A voyage to repair a weakened keel ended in tragedy after the yacht’s keel tore away from the hull just short of its destination and its skipper drowned. The keel was lost when welds attaching it to the keel plate failed.
The skipper and a crewmate, both experienced sailors, were en route from Gisborne to Tauranga on the 12.5m racing yacht, when it capsized, about 11 nautical miles from the Tauranga harbour entrance.
Regional Navigation Bylaws
Need to know who is responsible for navigational bylaws in your area? If so, here’s some useful information on who to contact.
The New Zealand map published on pages 6-7 of the AYBA Boaties Book show the nations’ Regional Councils and the bodies of water which fall under their control.
“In the boxes each Region is further divided into who looks after what,” says Richard Brown. “In some Regions the Councils only look after parts of their waterspace. If they do not take on the responsibility for the whole Region the default is Maritime NZ.”
“Either, the Regional bylaws as set out by the Regional Council for the waterspace for which they take responsibility, will apply OR if the council does not take responsibility it is passed to MNZ in which case Maritime Rule 91 will apply. In addition no bylaw may be in contravention to Rule 91.”
For example Taranaki is divided into two. The Regional Council has bylaws relating only to the port, in all other areas within the region Rule 91 applies.
All Councils undertake to review their bylaws either every two or every three years.
Consequently no sooner are there a new set of bylaws but consultation starts on the next set.
New Zealand Pleasure Boat Safety Strategy
Yachting New Zealand was amongst a group of organisations that undertook a review of the New Zealand Pleasure Boat Safety Strategy. An overview brochure of the review has been published: download by clicking here.
New Zealand’s national pleasure boat safety strategy has led to a 50% reduction in boating fatalities over the last six years. The strategy is about using a combination of education and targeted legislation to tackle the key risk factors in recreational boating fatalities.
This brochure summarises the Boating Safety Strategy: 2007 Review of the New Zealand Pleasure Boat Safety Strategy, which recommends safety initiatives that will guide all organisations involved in boating safety over the next five years plus.
The review is the work of the National Pleasure Boat Safety Forum which involved representatives from a number of key organisations including Yachting New Zealand. Our role is to represent the best interests of our members in regard to boating safety.