Western Work Boats is set to become certified as an approved moorings contractor – providing much needed attention to a backlog of uninspected moorings throughout the Bay of Plenty.

The appointment comes after exclusive sole contractor Sea Quest Marine allowed its certification to lapse on January 10.

Western Work Boats Limited managing director Sean Kelly with the regulation mooring chain at his Sulphur Point base. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

This followed a six month investigation into the moorings operator over allegations of cheap chain. It was found the contactor did not breach any regulations and had been using the approved chain.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council maritime operations manager Reuben Fraser confirms the investigation caused a backlog of inspections with 45 per cent of 499 moorings in Whakatane, Ohiwa and Tauranga Harbours overdue for inspections.

Western Work Boats is soon to be certified and has swift plans to remedy the issue.

'It's still the same at the moment [overdue inspections] so our focus is getting Western Work Boats out there as soon as possible,” says Reuben.

At present moorings may only be constructed, placed, maintained and inspected by a person approved by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster. Under local bylaws, moorings must be lifted and inspected every two years.

Western Work Boats Limited managing director Sean Kelly says his company applied for the certification 12 months ago and is pleased it was approved.

'We are hoping to start work soon and we are certainly willing and ready to do so,” says Sean.

'We just have to tidy up a few lose ends so that we can hopefully provide a very stable and reliable service for everyone.”

Reuben says sweeping changes have been made to council's moorings policy prompted by the investigation and a survey with the mooring licence holders.

'And one of the things we have come up with, in terms of managing moorings, is a new agreement between council and any potential mooring inspectors and we are just working through the last details of that now,” says Reuben.

'As a consequence we have amended the licence document and have created an agreement to be signed by the harbourmaster and any approved mooring inspectors to clearly set out service level expectations.

'Long-term this will mean a significant improvement in service.”

But Reuben is not shutting the door Sea Quest Marine, which can reapply for a certificate.

'Absolutely he can definitely reapply, we have been in conversations with some other potential inspectors as well so absolutely there is no reason we would limit it just to one.”