Category One - Tiare Taporo III (NZ1572)

Good evening,

We are seeking some clarification of the rules surrounding the expiry of Cat One certificates. We have a Cat One certificate dated April 22nd 2011 issued in Whangarei for our vessel "Tiare Taporo III". After then waiting some 3 weeks for a very elusive weather window we then were intending to clear Customs out of Marsden Cove, Whangarei on Monday the 16th. May. However, the expected weather window did not materialise until the 18th. and by then was looking fairly short lived. So we made the decision to come north to the Bay of Islands where we now are.

We have  identified a probably better window for departure on Sat. the 28th. but have now struck an issue with the date of our Cat One certificate. We have been informed by NZ Customs, Opua that the currency of Cat One certificates is 30 days. We were not informed specifically of that when it was issued, beyond a comment that there was some sort of time limit on Cat One certificates not specified. Could you please clarify urgently.

On the 28th. our Cat One certificate will be 36 days old - apparently 6 days out of date which means that we are going to have to either delay our departure yet again or somehow get it re-dated. This seems to us to be something of a bureaucratic nonsense, especially as it's possible to get a warrant of fitness for a motor vehicle for 6 months and in the case of a new vehicle, 12 months. We have spent in excess of NZD300,000 on an extensive refit over the last 3 years and as a result our vessel is probably more qualified to undertake an ocean passage than most who leave these shores. And if you are a foreign registered vessel there are no safety issues or requirements at all in spite of the fact that if such a vessel was in distress NZ Search and Rescue would still be involved if it was in the NZ Search and Rescue area. And we are sure you would agree that it would make a nonsense of safety considerations if NZ registered vessels put to sea regardless of sea conditions just in order to depart before expiry of their Cat One certificates!!!

We will ask the inspector to fax an extension to H.M. Customs Opua but, as we said, would appreciate your clarification as to the legal requirements.

Thank you

Jim Donald

s.v. Tiare Taporo III

currently moored in the Opua Marina.

Ph. 027 274 2004