SUPERYACHT QUALIFICATIONS FINALLY APPROVED

Four tortuous years after we first proposed that New Zealand introduce certification for professional superyacht officers, we finally have the necessary legislation in place and training programme approved from the Maritime Safety Authority.

Yes, 2005 will see the introduction of these courses and certificates.  The frustration at times has been overwhelming, both for us and for those whose career aspirations have been stymied for so long.

Any system where it takes so many years to get an insignificant and non-controversial legal amendment that can only benefit New Zealanders into place desparately needs to be changed.  This is particularly so in a maritime world where we are facing unpre-  cedented change through technology, international conventions and greater focus on whole-system approaches to improving safety.

From the beginning, we recognised that we would have to be pro-active in devel-oping the required Part32 rule amendment, the syllabus, the assessments and in estab- lishing equivalency with other adminis-trations. We also recognised that it would be much easier and more profitable just to seek accredition to deliver the United Kingdom certificates in New Zealand.

The problem would have been that candidates who already had or who wanted to get other commercial certification would receive little recognition for this.  Not only would they have to duplicate much course content but, in doing so, they would also have to pay for business class airfares and five-star hotels for UK examiners to come out for separate audit visits and to conduct all the oral exams.

Further, regardless of their experience, candidates would have to obtain expensive Royal Yacht Assoc or equivalent over-seas-driven yachting certificates just to meet the prerequisites for certification.

Despite a direct commitment from some employers, most maritime training is still selected and purchased by individuals seeking maritime certification for their own benefit.  Ignoring the best interests of our key clients might offer short-term profit, but this is of little value when you are training not for profit but for the benefit of seafarers, their employers and the industry.

This is a long-term commitment for us, and it would not be served by ignoring the interest of our NZ commercial certification students.  For this reason alone we have persisted with our advocacy for New Zealand certification, and are delighted that we are finally able to assist our students with careers in the lucrative superyacht industry.

Although it has been a long wait, we have got what we hoped for.  The system has alternative pathways for those seeking only “yacht” certificates.

Students who meet specific criteria will be eligible for student loans and allowances, and the system also avoids the necessity for overseas yachting certification as a prere- quisite and ensures equivalency with UK certification.  Full equivalency will require satisfactory completion of a single written UK Law and Practice written examination to be taken in NZ as part of the course of study.  All in all, it should prove to have been worth the inexcusable delay.