New Zealand Seeks Public Review of Maritime Levy Options For Seafarer Welfare Funding

Since 2019, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has been seeking ways to deliver changes to welfare funding mechanisms in response to the New Zealand Seafarer Welfare Board’s (SWB), welfare stakeholders, and Human Rights at Seas calls for effective and sustainable changes.

This work forms part of the wider Human Rights at Sea Maritime Levy Campaign which aims to improve welfare standards and facilities for all seafarers globally.

In March 2021, amendments to maritime levy laws were passed, specifying that levy funds must be used to improve seafarers’ welfare, as opposed to the previous situation where seafarers’ welfare was not a mandatory expenditure from the proceeds of the maritime levy.

MNZ is now holding a public consultation and is proposing increases to the Maritime Levies and Oil Pollution Levies to ensure sufficient and sustainable funding. The consultation will run from 19 July to 16 August 2023 and will seek input and an “opportunity for all people and organisations that receive the benefits of Maritime NZ’s performance and fund the organization to carry out its regulatory functions, to engage on potential changes to levies.”

The background paper “Options for Delivery of Seafarer Welfare Services” supports the consultation and discusses how seafarer welfare services funded by maritime levies should be provided.

Human Rights at Sea will submit its views on the matter, which builds on its opinions issued in November 2022. The success of this initiative is crucial for all maritime welfare providers in terms of accessing assured funding to continue and improve support to seafarers. Human Rights at Sea will continue engaging with MNZ, government departments, and forward-leaning welfare providers in NZ ports.

Press Release

New Zealand Seeks Public Review of Maritime Levy Options For Seafarer Welfare Funding appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News