Planning to build a vessel overseas for use in New Zealand under our Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS)? Understanding local design, construction and equipment (DCE) rules and their application early on can help ensure a smooth process.
New Zealand's 40-Series maritime rules - the DCE rules - set mandatory standards for domestic commercial vessels. While international standards and classification society ('class') rules are widely respected, they don't always match New Zealand's 40-Series rule requirements. A vessel built only to class standards may still need changes (some can be substantial) to meet our local DCE rules.
To avoid unnecessary hassle in getting your overseas-built MOSS ships running, it's important to:
- understand which rules apply
- get independent legal and technical advice before signing contracts
- when in doubt, seek guidance early from Maritime NZ.
We're here to help
Contact Maritime NZ early in your process. We can help clarify which rules apply and point you toward resources to support compliance.
