Rule Changes Come Into Effect On 1 December 2025

The changes are part of the International Omnibus Amendments project. These changes update New Zealand's rules to reflect mandatory changes to international maritime conventions and correct minor and technical errors.

Keeping Maritime and Marine Protection Rules up to date is part of business as usual for Maritime NZ. The changes will have limited impacts on stakeholders and will align New Zealand with international best practice.

The changes touch on:

Marine Protection Rule Part 125

• MARPOL Annex I (oil and oily water) was amended to prohibit the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters.
• There were exclusions and waivers created for applicable ships in Arctic states until 2029.

Marine Protection Rule Part 140

• MARPOL Annex II (noxious liquid substances in bulk) was amended to add a definition of 'persistent floater' in order to impose stricter prewash requirements for cargo tanks transporting these substances.
• These tank washing residues will need to be discharged to appropriate reception facilities. Applicable vessels and reception facilities will need to be aware of these changes in their onboard operations.

Marine Protection Rule Parts 101A, 123A, 160

• MARPOL Annexes I (oil and oily water) and IV (sewage) were amended to allow unmanned non-self-propelled (UNSP) barges to be exempted from some survey and certification requirements relating to:

  - oil pollution prevention given that applicable barges would not have propulsion equipment requiring oil

  - sewage pollution prevention given the unmanned nature of applicable barges.

• Operators should be aware of the availability of these exemption certificates and the ongoing compliance requirements for those holding them. Standard certification charges will apply.

Marine Protection Rules Part 300

• The 'Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems' (previously Guidance G8) has been made mandatory for ships whose ballast water management system was installed on or after 28 October 2020.
• The Code is aimed primarily at maritime administrations (governments) to assess whether ballast water management systems meet the standard set out in Regulation D-2 of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.

Marine Protection Rules Parts 123B, 140, 142B

• MARPOL Annexes I (oil and oily water), II (noxious liquid substances in bulk), and V (garbage) were amended to enable the use of electronic record books instead of hard copy record books. Changes included adding definitions of electronic record books and outlining requirements for the use of electronic record books.
• Operators should be aware of these amendments and the compliance requirements for those choosing to use electronic record books.

You can access the final rules changes here