Harbourmaster patrol and incident response

What is the Harbourmaster's role?

The Harbourmaster's primary role is to ensure navigational safety is maintained. This is achieved through:

• regular harbour patrols
• liaison with users
• develop the regulations and bylaws for the region's waters
• co-ordination of uses (commercial vs. recreational)
• control and regulation of mooring management areas
• education of safe and environmentally sound boating practices
• marine oil spill response.

In the interests of a multi-use and environmentally sound harbour, the Harbourmaster is no longer directly linked to solely commercial operations, although port efficiency is still an underlying component of the task.

For an overview of our partners in Auckland's water safety.

Port and Harbour Safety Code

In line with good practice and the requirements of the Port and Harbour Safety Code the Harbourmaster has undertaken an application assessment of the regions waters. This assessment highlighted areas where operations existed that should be fully assessed to understand any risk they may pose. The completed assessment, using sub assessments undertaken by Ports of Auckland Ltd and the Royal New Zealand Navy, has been used to ensure suitable controls are in place to protect the safety of navigation within the region.

A copy of the final report, approved by Maritime New Zealand and adopted by Council is available by contacting harbourmaster@arc.govt.nz.  Further information and background information on the Port and Harbour Safety Code can be found at Martime New Zealand.

Patrol vessels

Our maritime officers conduct frequent patrols to educate harbour users and to enforce navigation safety bylaws. People who infringe bylaws (by anchoring in the commercial channel, exceeding 5 knots within 200m of the shore, etc) may face an instant fine of $100 or $200.

Emergency response

The Harbourmaster will generally take the lead role in an incident (sinking, grounding, oil spill or collision) requiring the co-ordination of maritime resources.

Harbour complaints

If you have a complaint about navigational safety, mooring or marine oil pollution, contact the Harbourmaster's 24-hour emergency line on 09 362 0397 ext 0. For non emergencies, you can contact us at harbourmaster@arc.govt.nz.

Harbourmaster Patrol