Commercial Vessel Operation

This page explains licensing and regulatory requirements for commercial vessel operators in the Tasman District. Licences are required, and must be renewed by October 31 each year.

To request more information or to discuss a proposed operation, please contact the Council Harbourmaster on 03 543 8400.

Licence Required

In order to operate a commercial service, scheduled, non-scheduled or offering rental services, a licence must first be obtained from Council.

Licences will only be issued when Council is satisfied that the operation:

will not diminish the level of safety of other activities in the vicinity;
will not cause congestion or any unsafe practice at points of embarkation or disembarkation, or at any place en route.

Summary of National Regulatory Requirements

If a motorised vessel of any size is being used for ‘hire and reward’ in any way, then a number of requirements under The Maritime Transport Act 1994 and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. Maritime Rules also apply.

Safe Ship Management and Qualified Crew

In general, for boats less than 45m long the vessel should be under the supervision of a Safe Ship Management company, and the crew should be appropriately qualified.

The requirements vary depending upon the nature of use, for example a boat can be rated as a ‘Hire and Drive’ boat so it can be hired by the general public for their own recreation.

These requirements apply if any money changes hands for the use of the boat, or if the crew or passengers are being paid while using the boat. For example, if a scientist is being paid to take some water samples, or a tradesman is being transported to a remote building site, then the vessel should be certified and the skipper should be qualified. If a ‘hire and drive’ boat is being used for this purpose, then it should also be rated as fit to ply as a ‘passenger vessel’ or ‘non-passenger vessel’ as appropriate, under its Safe Ship Management System, and the skipper should be qualified.

Fishing Vessels and Non-motorised Craft

Commercial fishing vessels are subject to similar requirements, and must be registered with the Ministry of Fisheries.
Non-motorised vessels, including yachts and paddle craft like rafts and kayaks, are also subject to specialised Maritime Rules or Guidelines in most cases.

Any local enquiries regarding qualifying as a commercial skipper, or to bring a vessel into commercial operation, should be directed to the Industry Liaison Advisor at Maritime New Zealand’s office at 36 Graham Street, Port Nelson, phone 03 548 2434.

Information for commercial vessel operators from Maritime New Zealand.

Tasman District Regulatory Requirements

Commercial Vessel Operation Licence

In addition to the requirements above, commercial vessel operators wishing to operate anywhere within the Tasman District territory (which includes all lakes and rivers as well as the waters out to twelve nautical miles seaward of the shore of the District) are subject to the requirement under the Navigation Safety Bylaw to hold either a Commercial Vessel Operation licence, or an exemption.

The primary objective of this requirement is to preserve the District’s reputation as a safe and enjoyable place for tourism and for boating and watersports in general. Accordingly, the requirement is not currently applied to genuine commercial fishing vessels and genuine workboats that do not carry passengers or frequent the more popular parts of the coastline.

If you intend to hire a vessel or other watercraft to anyone, or transport people who have paid for an experience (for example a charter boat or water-taxi, guided rafting or kayaking, guided trout fishing where a boat is used to access the water to be fished and so on) then please contact the Harbourmaster at harbourmaster@tasman.govt.nz or by contacting any Tasman District Council office to discuss your intentions.

Exemptions

Small scale operations may apply for an exemption from the requirement to hold a licence, for example a campground or motel hiring or loaning small unpowered dinghies, sailboats or paddlecraft as ‘part of the package’. No annual charges apply if an exemption is held, but a renewal date of three to five years will be specified.

The operator will be required to demonstrate that the equipment is fit for purpose and that appropriate customer briefing and supervision procedures are documented (this can be a very simple plan in most cases), to the satisfaction of the Harbourmaster.

Navigation Safety Bylaw

Read details of the Navigation Safety Bylaw 2006.

List of Licensed Commercial Vessel Operators

The following is a list of current licence holders and their authorised vessels.

Licence Number	Business	Authorised vessels
CO0004	The Sea Kayak Company (NZ)	Kayaks
CO0010	Wilsons Abel Tasman	Awaroa, Abel Tasman Voyager , Abel Tasman Explorer, Matangi, Ripple and kayaks
CO0024	Golden Bay Kayaks	Kayaks
CO0032	Marahau Water Taxis	Tangaro, Wainui, Tane, Te Awatea, Kiwa, Venture II, Odyssey, Bonnie Doon
CO0033	Catamaran Sailing Charters & Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures	Jamarh (Catamaran Sailing Charters), Aorere (Catamaran Sailing Charters), Alleycat (Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures) Straycat, Mistify (Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures)
CO0043	Parore Charter & Diving	Cat A Rac

CO0048	Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles	Abel Dominator, Adele II, Abel Tasman Crusader, Tui (barge), Ataz II
CO0050	McKay Shipping	Oceanic Discoverer
CO0054	Martin Everton	Waikite
CO0063	Marahau Sea Kayaks	Kayaks
CO0064	Independent Guides	Kayaks
CO0068	Abel Tasman Charters	Taranui, Pearl Kasper
CO0076	Estuary Adventures	The Flat Bottom Fairy
CO0078	Sea Bird Charters	Cappy

CO0082	Yonder Star	Yonder Star
CO0084	Sail Nelson	Manaia
CO0085	Buller Canyon Jet	Buller Canyon Jet 1, Buller Canyon Jet 2
CO0087	W J Hadfield	James Lee
CO0089	Cougar Cruises	Back Up
CO0092	Coffee N Cruise	Kermit
CO0093	Bar-B-Cruise	Waingaro
CO0094	Kahu Kayaks	Hawk Eye, kayaks
CO0095	The Hire Boat Company	Spirit
CO0098	Nelson Sailing Adventures	Easy Rider
CO0099	Nelson Charters	Simply Wild, Sh'Khinah
CO0100	Westwinds Yachting	Galantis
CO0103	Rotoiti Water Taxis	Reliance, Ellie


CO0106	Lake Rotoroa Water Taxi	Lake Rotoroa Water Taxi

CO0109	Wild Cat Charters	Mistral
CO0110	Strike Adventure Ltd	Strike Adventure
CO0111	Abel Tasman Dive	Zero Gravity
CO0112	A P Smith Fishing Consultancy	Application in progress
COX0002	Gowan Bank Backpackers	Canoe hire
COX0003	Affinity Charters	Transits only, MV affinity
COX0004	Awaroa Lodge	Barge, and loan kayaks

Fees and Charges

Commercial Vessel Operation licences are subject to an application fee and an annual charge, which are specified in the current Annual Plan. Licences are renewable annually, expiring on 31 October each year.

Unlicensed operators are liable to an instant fine or prosecution upon discovery.

Commercial Operators Licence Fees and Charges

Forms

Application or Renewal of Commercial Vessel Operation Licence