Connemara in service

MV Connemara, the newest and largest addition to the StraitNZ Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries’ fleet, has arrived in Wellington.

Following a 40-day journey from France via the Panama Canal, the Connemara , purchased from the Stena Group, began service in February.

The Connemara is 187 metres long, with of gross tonnage of 24414 tonnes. It can carry up 500 passengers and has 120 cabins, including a few dog friendly ones. It also has escalator access from the main vehicle deck.

Jim King Secretary/Treasurer Wellington Branch

KiwiRail

1. Kaitaki

In early March, a fault in a bearing occurred in one of Kaitaki’s two gearboxes when it was in port in Wellington. This is unrelated to the earlier incident. This meant Kaitaki was out of service until 10 April. In further work, the vessel will be out of service for approx. two days due to work being carried out on the boilers.

2. Aratere Aratere also had engine troubles outside of Tory Channel back in February Entrance, and was forced to use the northern entrance.

3. Caterers claims

Kiwi Rail – InterIslander has rejected our Caterers claim for a pay increase. But their response doesn’t address some of our members concerns.

KR–IIL Manager Walter Rushbrook says the request for an increase stems from a pay increase to InterIslander Able Bodied Seafarer and Cook positions from 1 January 2023.

Walter stated the ring fenced pay increase went some way in addressing concerns our Union had about their ongoing retention and recruitment at a particularly challenging time and during our peak summer travel season.

He advised that he is not in a position to offer a pay increase for other Interislander crew positions outside of the Collective Agreement bargaining process.

The relevant Collective Agreement expires on 30 September 2023. His view is this is the time to table any pay claims with KR–IIL. He also noted the collective agreement pay rate increase and a one off lump sum payment in our last CEA negotiation. Not too sure why he’s mentioned this, as it has nothing to do with what the members were claiming.

Incidentally, the lump sum payment was in lieu of the service allowance, this is what the company agreed to pay us. It was the cheaper option for KR-IIL to pay this, and our claim was to have this part of the CEA. This service allowance is what our Bosuns receive and all of the KR-IIL Officers and Engineers, but not all MUNZ members.

KR–IIL’s final spin was, they continue to work with their leaders on developing an engaged workforce and they value all our InterIslander people and the work they do. Our people continue to do a fantastic job in often difficult circumstances. We have to wonder what this means in reality.

Another letter has been sent to Walter from our concerned members, asking him to address their original concerns.

StraitNZ – Bluebridge

4. Connemara

The Connemara, got into trouble on the way to Picton on Friday 24 March. It returned and docked in Wellington with assistance on Saturday.

Bluebridge said Connemara had experienced an issue with an engine and is undergoing repairs in Wellington.

5. June 2023 CEA Negotiations

A letter went out to the members on the Bluebridge Ferries advising them of the up and coming wage rounds in June, and asking them to start compiling their remits.

6. Union membership

We have been inundated with new applications from new recruits sourced from overseas. This is excellent for our union as a whole.

I note the great interest in union membership coming from the Blue Bridge ferries, great stuff!

KR-IIL recruitment is excellent too, with our delegates signing up new members to the Union. I have also noticed growth in members applying to join the Maritime Retirement Scheme (MRS).

7. Injury aboard Straitsman

One of our members who was hit by a truck on the Straitsman on Friday 24 February was released from hospital with a broken wrist. Bluebridge is working with Maritime NZ to establish how the incident happened.

It was a trainee (DWR) staff member who was injured on the main vehicle deck of the ferry.

Our member appeared to have suffered an injury to his wrist, as well as bruising down the body. I had spoken to Ollie Muller about the incident, and have also spoken to the member, along with attending an investigation with Bluebridge over the incident.

The incident is the latest in a string of unfortunate events for the Cook Strait ferry operators. Bluebridge and Interislander ferries have both been hit with breakdowns and engine problems over the past few weeks.

Continued on page 4

Some of the ferries have broken down partway through journeys across the strait, which is a concern for MUNZ.

Offshore

8. Australian Offshore Solutions (AOS) Q7000 semi-submersible

Everything going well as expected. Timeline for expected delivery:

ETD ex Malaysia 23 March,

ETA Fremantle 10 April

ETD Fremantle 14–15 April

ETA NZ 30 April

9. MUA – MUNZ meeting – New Zealand unemployed seafarers

A meeting was held between George Gakis (MUA), and Craig Harrison and I from MUNZ, on the issue of Maersk vessels pulling out of their New Zealand coastal shipping service. This has now created a problem with rising numbers of unemployed seafarers on our database.

In this case the MUA is currently helping us out by crewing the Q7000 (Semi-Sub) off Taranaki, which is approximately a three-month campaign.

The outcome of the meeting was MUA members will remain on the Q7000 as they are already there.

Putting our members on to the Semi-Sub is not quite that easy. It’s not like normal rig tenders where our members have all the usual maritime qualifications to work these vessels. But to work on the semi subs they require an additional certificate this is called the BOSIET.

All our AB’s and IRs in the offshore are not required to hold these certs, because it’s very rare that a semi-sub comes here to work in New Zealand waters.

I had contacted John Spurway at AOS NZ and advised them there will be some unemployed seafarers coming back onto the NZ database. I also reminded him that it was agreed by AOS Australia that they would need to put our members through the BOSIET certification.

Unfortunately, like the other manning agents, they have no interest in paying for the BOSIET training for our unemployed seafarers. This is a battle that’s been around for many years.

Usually when semi-subs come to work here in New Zealand, they are only here for a few months. So, for deck or engine room departments, it’s not feasible for them to obtain these certs which costs thousands of dollars, just for the sake of a few months’ work.

The BOSIET certs are valid for five years, so after the short stint on the Q7000, they’ll probably never use the BOSIET cert again.

Unlike the Cooks and Stewards, who can pretty much use their BOSIETS all year round on either the semi subs, or any of the platform rigs because they can work there, MUNZ does not have coverage on the platform rigs at all.

Niwa

A Personal Grievance letter has gone to NIWA due to serious communication problems that arose on the Tangaroa. Members raised concerns over working public holidays as to what are the applicable rates that need to be applied.

General

10. Maritime Worker newsletter

Please keep your emails, articles and pictures rolling in, they will be published in the next edition of the Wellington Maritime Worker, space permitting.

The next edition of the Maritime Worker is due out in June 2023.

11. Wellington Database

I expect the database numbers to rise very soon due to the mass redundancies with Maersk.

12. Stop Work meeting

Next Stop Work Meeting is set down for new date and day, Wednesday 10 May to be held 10am at the National Office Conference room, first Floor, Waterside House, 220 Willis Street.

13. 2023 up and coming wage Negotiations for Wellington Branch

• Blue Bridge – Ferries – June 2023

• Offshore Oil and Gas – October 2023

• StraitNZ – Wellington and Picton Terminals – June 2023

• NIWA – second phase of 2022 Terms of Settlement – June 2023

• KiwiRail InterIslander – October 2023

• Dutch Dredging – December 2023

14. Wage rounds current

• NIWA Vessels (Settled)

• C3 Log Marshalling (Current)

• C3 Stevedoring (Current)

• SGS (current)

15. Obituaries

The Branch notes with sadness the passing of former NZSU official Jimmy Woods and former member and cook Tony Stiles.

It is with deep regret that MUNZ received the sad news of former NZSU Wellington Secretary Jimmy Woods crossing the bar at the age of 95 years. A family private service was held in Wellington. Our deepest condolences go to Jimmy’s family, friends, and comrades all around the world.

Thanks, Jimmy, for your great contribution to New Zealand Seafarers and working people of New Zealand.

A full obituary by Mick Williams is published later in this edition of the Maritime Worker.