" wrote in
ups.com:

The exam was found to be illegal for foreign flagged vessels because
NZ is a signatory to the SOLAS/IMO agreements. Charging for rescue is
also not allowed for signatories. The people who objected to the
inspections noted that most foreign vessels in New Zealand arrived on
their own bottoms and were likely to be seaworthy; that records
suggested that almost all rescues at sea carried out by NZ assets were
for NZ vessels; that the vessels were already required to comply with
their home countries safety laws and that complying with NZ laws as
well would be have them carrying redundant equipment; that the
inspections varied greatly depending on the inspector and the
inspected and there were questions of fairness and due process.


I have a video of a barge canal trip throughout France, Germany, etc.,
made by an Englishman. His vessel is a barge home pushed by a tugboat.

In several places he was forbidden to proceed until he had added some
pretty stupid equipment, required by the bureaucrats controlling that
waterway, like huge anchors and windlasses to the stern of the tugboat
before entering the Rhine comes to mind.

I wonder if these same SOLAS/IMO agreements used in NZ to prevent
inspections couldn't have been applied to France and Germany, both also
signatories, to prevent him having to buy that unnecessary anchoring
system.....??

His barge complied with all rules/regulations of England, another
signatory.


Larry
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