Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris is the first operator in the Coromandel, and one of the first small operators in the country, to be certified under Maritime New Zealand's new Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS).

The introduction of MOSS is the biggest change in the industry in 15 years, replacing the Safe Ship Management (SSM) system which required operators to work through a safe ship management company to develop a safety system for their vessels.

Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris owner/operator Darryl O'Keeffe holds the Maritime Transport Operator Certificate with Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris skippers Mark McDonald, left, and Hayden Andrews, right.

MNZ central compliance manager Pelin Davison presents the all-important Maritime Transport Operator Certificate to the owner/operator of Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris Darryl O'Keeffe.

MNZ central compliance manager Pelin Davison says MOSS enables a direct relationship between operators and Maritime New Zealand. 'MOSS makes operators responsible for developing a safety system covering not only their vessels, but their entire operation.

'Operators no longer have to work through a third party to develop safety plans. After all, the operators know their businesses best and are the ones best placed to assess the risks and hazards of their operations.”

Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris operates three vessels for snapper fishing charters in local mussel farms, averaging 800 trips and about 10,000 customers year.

Owner/operator Darryl O'Keeffe, who is also president of the Thames/Coromandel Charter Boat Association, says the MOSS process had real benefits in preparing a Maritime Transport Operator Plan.

'It made us be proactive about the process of assessing risk. We sat down as a team and discussed our business requirements. It made our skippers aware of every issue in the health and safety plan. 'Our staff are more aware and more responsible for the plan, which now fits our business to a ‘T'.”

The end product is a Maritime Transport Operator Certificate (MTOC), presented yesterday by Pelin.

'MOSS provides a balance between operators developing and implementing their own safety system, and MNZ providing the right amount of regulatory oversight for these systems,” says Pelin.

The principles guiding MOSS are:

*improving safety by putting a greater focus on vessel owners and operators operating safely.

*creating clearer lines of responsibility for the day-to-day safe operation of vessels.

*providing effective and efficient regulatory oversight by MNZ.

*making it easier for operators, surveyors and MNZ staff to support safe vessels and safe operating practices.