The latest blog entry brings to mind the short story "The £200 Millionaire", by Weston Martyr.

We went aboard and found the green sloop to be one of the cleverest little ships imaginable. It is difficult to describe her gear on deck and aloft without being technical; suffice it to say, therefore, that everything was very efficient and simple, and so designed that all sail could be set or lowered by the man at the helm without leaving the cockpit. The boat was 30 feet long by 9 feet wide, and my short wife, at any rate, could stand upright in her cabin. Her fore end was a storeroom, full of convenient lockers, shelves and a small but adequate water-closet. Abaft this came the cabin, an apartment 12 feet long, with a broad bunk along one side of it and a comfortable settee along the other. A table with hinged flaps stood in the middle, while in the four corners were a wardrobe, a desk, a pantry and a galley. Abaft all this was a motor, hidden beneath the cockpit floor. A clock ticked on one bulkhead, a rack full of books ran along the other, a tray of pipes lay on the table, and a copper kettle sang softly to itself on the little stove.

Except for the tray of pipes. I don't expect to see that lying on the table. Everything else is not too far adrift.

All right.  Enough about bureaucrats getting in the way of innocent sailors' enjoyment.  I've got to finish this boat first and there is still an incredible amount to do. (I try not to think too far ahead!)  The blog's been updated and there are some nice pictures of varnish for those of you who enjoy beautiful wood.

As promised, my email to Maritime NZ and their reply.

Dear Mr Simmons

Thank you for your email of 11 May querying the increase in Part B registration fees in the last 5 years, yours is not the first piece of correspondence we have received on this matter and it is certainly something that we are looking into. This email gives you some context for that process.

I note that you were the registered owner of the vessel Seabird which was first registered in 2006 and was renewed for a further 5 years in 2011.
In 2012 Maritime NZ underwent a funding review which considered how Maritime NZ supports the operations and activities of the maritime community.  The review gathered information to set fixed fees at a rate that reflects the time taken and the cost, including overheads and depreciation, for tasks such as a Part B registration.  After consultation with the maritime sector, this review resulted in a new charging regime which passed into law with the Ship Registration (Fees) Regulations 2013.  The new charges took effect from 1 July 2013.
I realise that any increase in fees is unwelcome. However prior to the 2013 changes, the fees were last changed in 2008.

Fortunately we are currently undertaking another funding review of this type and we will ensure that your comments are accounted for in this process. In preparation for this review we have been working to reduce the time taken to complete a registration, this is something that was a factor in the 2012 funding review outcome. Please let us know if you are interested in hearing more about the current review process or the outcomes.

In answer to your question about other overseas organisations offering the same service at a reduced cost I think it worth pointing out that small vessel registration in many other countries is subsidised by the tax payer, as is the case in the UK. This is not the case in New Zealand where the vessel owner pays the full cost of the transaction. The other factor that impacts on Maritime New Zealand's costs is the number of vessels on our register which is smaller in scale than other countries like the UK and Germany.

Whilst I don’t anticipate my email will do anything to change your choice of flag I hope it will provide some assurance that this issue is one we are treating seriously.

Your sincerely

Steve Peters | Manager Operator Certification
Maritime New Zealand | Wellington
Nō te rere moana Aotearoa

T +64 4 471 5366| F +64 4 494 1263 | W maritimenz.govt.nz


-----Original Message-----
From: sea2birds@gmail.com [mailto:sea2birds@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, 11 May 2018 9:36 p.m.
To: Ship Registration
Subject: Part B registration

Dear Sir or Madam,
The cost of Part B ship registration for recreational craft, at $1090 for 5 years, is without doubt outrageous.
Many cruising sailors have, by necessity, become quite parsimonious in order to maintain their lifestyle. This in turn forces them to question the value of every product or service they purchase.
On examination it seems that one receives little in return for $1090. Namely, a laminated card showing owner and vessel details, all supplied by the owner, entry in a data base and a demand for even higher fees on re-registration.
It is difficult to understand why fees have be so high. I guess the provision of leased late model four wheel drive vehicles, a small fleet RIBS with twin 150hp outboards, nicely appointed air conditioned offices and some nice superannuation benefits is costly.
I have recently registered my yacht in Germany. The cost of my flaggenzertifikat, valid for eight years, was 75 euros; approximately $NZ110. Compared with NZ rego this is much better value for money. I do have to admit that my flaggenzertifikat was not laminated. Additionally I no longer have to be bothered with the tiresome Category 1 safety inspection procedure, this at an additional cost of $197 at each departure.

It is particularly irksome to me that I am forced to register my boat offshore due to the greed of a government agency. Naturally I now fly a German flag and will never fly a NZ ensign as courtesy flag as long this unacceptable charge remains in place. Why is it that similar overseas organisations can offer the same, for want of a better word, ‘service’ at a much reduced cost?

I meet many NZ yachts men and women who have acted similarly to myself registering there boats in the UK, Holland or Belgium. It is a disgrace! Lower prices and increase NZ registrations. I look forward to your comments Scincerly, Martin Simmons
                Tystie, 37 Quayside, Whangarei 0110, 021 08504583

Is it just me or is common sense inversely proportional to the amount of safety regulations?

Do they do anything to make sure whoever's in charge of the boat is competent? It doesn't really matter what safety gear is on the boat if the crew need a roadmap and both hands to find their own backsides...

Bill F

David Thatcher wrote:I see from an online search that it is possible to register a vessel in Mongolia, one of the worlds great sea-faring nations, I wonder how much that costs? 

BTW belay that last comment on progress in the galley.  Subsequent to some friends' comments and the fact that, when seated in the saloon, the galley counter somewhat dominates, plus the fact that I'm now wondering whether to put the sink where I was planning a stack of drawers, I've spent most of the day cursing, measuring, offering up, etc.  If the stringer were 40mm lower, it would be a lot more straightforward.  If I weren't so precious, it would be even easier!