Requirements for Vessels Arriving in New Zealand

Requirements for Vessels Arriving in New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/ships

Advance Notice of Arrival Form
All commercial vessels must apply in writing, in advance of arrival of the vessel, to a number of New Zealand government agencies.

Maritime Declaration of Health - updated June 2007
The New Zealand Ministry of Health requires all vessels arriving in New Zealand to report to health authorities on the health conditions on board during the voyage and the health status of passengers and crew.

Advance Notice of Arrival Form
All commercial vessels must apply in writing, in advance of arrival of the vessel, to a number of New Zealand government agencies.

The New Zealand Border Agencies Advance Notice of Arrival combines the appropriate government departments' information requirements for commercial vessels arriving in New Zealand from an overseas port.

All arriving vessels must complete the form no less than 48 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival in New Zealand and Masters of Vessels or their agents are to send the completed form to the appropriate locations as per the instructions on the form.

A confirmation of ‘no change of health status’ 12 to 24 hours prior to arrival must be provided to Health Protection Officers at the port of arrival.

Maritime Declaration of Health
In accordance with Article 37 of the International Health Regulations 2005, the New Zealand Ministry of Health requires all vessels arriving in New Zealand to report to health authorities on the health conditions on board during the voyage and the health status of passengers and crew.

For this purpose a New Zealand Ministry of Health Maritime Declaration of Health must be completed by the Master of the vessel, and countersigned by the ship's surgeon if one is carried, and delivered to health officials after arrival.

This declaration is in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations 2005, Annex 8.

Ship Sanitation Certification
Also in accordance with Article 39 of the International Health Regulations 2005, all vessels travelling in international waters after 15 June 2007 are required to hold a current Ship Sanitation Control Certificate or a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate.

These certificates must be renewed at least every six months so ship sanitation control inspections need to be undertaken at six-monthly intervals. Health officials are available to undertake a ship sanitation control inspection if the certificate is due to expire within the next month or before a vessel's arrival at the next port.

The new fees and charges will take effect from 15 June 2007, when the ship sanitation/ship sanitation exemption inspection and certification regime will also take effect

Transition from Derat Certification to Ship Sanitation Control Certification. The Ship Sanitation Control Certification will be phased in from the IHR 2005 implementation date of 15 June 2007. Vessels arriving in New Zealand waters post 15 June 2007 with valid Derat Certificates/Exemption Certificates will be not require a Ships Sanitation Control, Certificate until their Derat Certificate has expired.

New Zealand Ministry of Health Maritime Declaration of Health

Download the New Zealand Ministry of Health Maritime Declaration of Health (Word, 237 KB) - updated August 2007
Download the New Zealand Ministry of Health Maritime Declaration of Health (PDF, 23 KB) - updated August 2007

Related information

New Zealand biosecurity and quarantine information
Communicable diseases
Notifiable diseases

For advice on SARS in relation to the maritime industry refer to the following links:
Information on SARS (Ministry of Health)
Information about SARS and the maritime industry (Ministry of Health)
Procedures for prevention and management of probable cases of SARS on international cargo vessels (World Health Organization)
Guidance about SARS for Airline Flight Crews, Cargo and Cleaning Personnel, and Personnel Interacting with Arriving Passengers (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)

Page last updated 16 August 2007