Maritime NZ has established a dedicated Third-Party Oversight Team to work with third-party regulators and provide assurance to the maritime sector that the third-party regulatory system is performing well.
Third party regulators are entities or individuals, not employed by Maritime NZ, who perform regulatory functions under a delegation or other authorisation. Their functions, depending on the specifically stated delegation or authorisation, can relate to equipment, vessels, training, medical fitness, competency, crew conditions, plans etc.
Over recent years, various investigations have recommended stronger oversight of third-party regulators. The establishment of the Third-Party Oversight Team is a direct response to these.
The maritime sector, and the public, rightly expect that all regulatory functions are both efficient and effective, including third-party regulatory functions carried out on behalf of Maritime NZ. Likewise, third party regulators have the right to expect support and clear direction from Maritime NZ.
The new team's role is to work with third party regulators to understand how well third-party functions are working, identify any issues that may exist, provide leadership on third-party regulation matters, and identify investments that could help to tackle significant issues.
Together proactively identifying where any significant issues may exist, allows actions to be taken before serious harm occurs.
Revenue from maritime levies is funding the new team because effective third-party regulatory functions benefit every participant in the maritime system.
Our priority is to focus on third-party functions of highest strategic importance and where we have evidence that challenges are present. To achieve this, the team has developed a three-year work programme, which focusses on the third-party regulators in priority order.
In the first year the team is focussing on marine surveyors (who carry out a very important safety and environmental protection role). Future work will include focussing on recognised organisations and then training colleges and examiners.
