Gulf Harbour - the relaxing yacht refit destination

"About Safety Afloat."

In a country with a population of just over four million people, New Zealand has the most number of boats per capita of population than in any other developed country in the world.
The numbers have been assessed at a conservative 300,000 private leisure craft.

Kiwis have for many years been able to enjoy the natural beauty of New Zealand's surroundings, her pristine lakes, rivers, and dramatic coastline.
New Zealand has never legislated or raised the issues faced within the dramatically increasing accident rates which today are plaguing our shorelines.
Safety, compliance, and registration has become a very sensitive issue which no marine body has ever attempted to rectify, apart from dedicated drives to try and bring a greater awareness in water safety.

None of these 300,000 craft are required by any legislation or law to have a "fit for purpose" check done on the craft or their safety equipment. This in itself is "bizarre" given the numbers of completely inexperienced boat owners compared to those with experience.

Strategic targets aiming at a total of 25% reduction in recreational fatalities, accidents and mishaps is the aim which the Maritime Safety Authority is trying to achieve for the next year. However, apart from advertising, Coastguard and cries for education, nothing is physically done.

The safety culture in New Zealand is far more prevalent in the commercial boating fraternity which is continually audited updated and controlled.

The commercial industry is catered for with two main ruling junctions. Safe Ship management and Safe Operational Plans. Maritime New Zealand controls this side of the maritime industry.

In order to achieve a logical step, to lower the rising death rates, firstly a safety culture must be developed in that there is a controlled risk management assessment undertaken and measures put in place in order to lower the risk factors enough. It is due to this requirement of a controlled safety culture to exist that "Safety Afloat Ltd" was begun.

"Safety Afloat Ltd" realizes that Legislation to encourage a safe environment for the boating fraternity is many years away from ever getting through the many legal and diplomatic minefields which such a ruling or legislation would require.

The boating fraternity itself would quite probably refuse and reject any attempt to control that which they feel is their last bastion of non-legislation or rulings. Therefore in order to achieve a safe culture, one needs to have the boating public Want to develop such a culture, and Want to play a part in lowering their risk factors. As such it is only fair and reasonable that if the risk factors are reduced, then so too should their individual insurance policy fees. At present "Safety Afloat Ltd" is attempting to negotiate this between the insurance council of New Zealand, and selected insurance companies.

It is anticipated that once a vessel has complied with a safety check, the vessel will be offered a reduction in premium, being that the vessel obviously has lowered its risk factor.

The first "boat warrant of fitness" station was based at Gulf Harbour; this was the first "boat stop" of its type in the country. Since then, we have spread north and south, and now most of the Auckland and Rodney areas have their own “Safety Afloat” authorized agents.  These agents know, and understand safety… This is why they were independently chosen.

Our next aim, is to take this "boat stop" to every major port or Harbour in New Zealand, so that the nation is able to partake in what we feel will be a "non-legislative" risk management merger with the public and their boats as a whole.

We aim to check the integrity of two basic points.
1. The integrity of the vessel itself. To ensure that the vessel is safe for the people who travel within it in the areas described.  We are not offering a “survey” as such, but to a trained eye, details can be quickly picked up.
2. The safety equipment carried is safe, up-to-date, and sufficient for the areas where the vessel is likely to travel too and in.  This is one of the major items which will save the lives of the people who travel on that particular vessel.

As soon as the vessel and the safety equipment is considered compliant, a small sticker will be affixed to the windshield of the vessel in order to show that this particular vessel has been checked, and it’s owner has been informed of any an/or all defects or deficiencies which were found by the inspecting agent. This B.W.O.F. (Boat warrant of fitness) will show last date the audit took place, month, and year.
Each boat will be given a number which is on the sticker, and this number will provide a badly needed database which will help to assist those who do understand that when we are at sea, “you cannot get out and walk home.”

“Safety Afloat is dedicated to safegaurding our families.”

INTRODUCING:
Capt. Stan Collett.
As a New Zealand Offshore Master, H.T. endorsed, Marine Engineer, in both New Zealand and overseas he accounts for over thirteen qualifications in the marine trades.

His knowledge of the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australian coastlines is without doubt, one of the best in the industry. His work with the Maritime Safety Authority on the draft and implemented rules less than 40D has assisted with the introduction of "Safe Operational Plans" and as an authorized person to the director of Maritime Safety in New Zealand.

With our sponsors and other high profile contributors, (Mayor, MSA, Coastguard, St Johns, boating organizations, etc.) our direction is firm, controlled, and directed into making the general boating public more aware.
The direction in which this company is moving towards is a greater safety culture within the public boating sector of New Zealand.

By giving the public an economical, fair, and informative check of their safety equipment and boat, means that the individual owner is able to ensure and show that they are compliant with basic safety measures onboard their own craft. It also gives passengers and crew aboard these vessels comfort that that particular vessel has been checked, and at time of that check was found to be in safety guidelines set out.

INTRODUCING:
Les Taylor .
Les Taylor recently joined Safety Afloat having an impressive sale and marketing record.  Using his natural business skills he has managed and directed various notable businesses to high levels.

Les has taken on the Sales and marketing side of “Safety Afloat” and already the company is having great success in the first thrust, with just a few weeks of joining the team.

Les’s introduction to the boating industry came in 1996 when he purchased, then a dying business in Gulf Harbour Auckland .

Directing the company, he attained the first ISO 9002 boat painting co in the southern hemisphere.  Since then he has found his “natural calling” in the marine industry.  “Safety.”

After crewing racing yachts, owning various boats, he is a well known face on the waterfront.

With many years working in and being apart of the leisure boating industry he became concerned at the lack of knowledge, lack of adequate safety equipment, and the complete lack of any type of national/regional situation to have one’s safety equipment and boat checked by an independent person.

Having worked for many years with Stan in the marine industry, he became aware of the work which Stan was passionate about and even more passionate to alter. This was the beginning of “SAFETY  AFLOAT.”

It did not take long before both men took the bit between their teeth, and made a deep thrust into a new type of safety culture, which now is swiftly taking over our boating scene. 

Combined with years of knowledge, love of the industry, and a genuine aim to increase awareness of safety, they have formed a formidable team.

Armed with their years of expertise, their lobbying of Government departments, Coastguard, St Johns, Regional Authorities, Regional Councils, Harbour masters, Yacht Clubs and now schools, New Zealand is finally changing their attitudes to safety when they and their families are afloat.

 Topping the table in all Les puts his hand too, safety afloat and our customers can be assured of 100% commitment, in driving safety afloat to its ultimate goal. 

“Safer Boating throughout New Zealand.”

The following vessel service stations and Authorised “Safety Afloat” agents can be found in the following places: 

1.  BOATS R US contact MURRAY TONKIN
   Ph 0800 BOATS R US 09 426 8346 Fax 09 426 8371
   Email: info@boatsrus.co.nz www.boatsrus.co.nz
   25 Foundry rd Silverdale PO Box 448 Silverdale

2.  MIKES MARINE CENTRE contact MIKE& DEBBIE BOYCE
   Ph 09 426 8556 Fax 09 426 7458 Mob 027 294 6309
   Email: mike@mikesmarine.co.nz
   15 Agency Lane Silverdale P.o.Box 208 Silverdale

3.  BAYS OUTBOARD BOAT CENTRE Contact PHILIP WAR
   Ph 09 478 2365
   Email: baysoutboard@xtra.co.nz
   27 Bute Rd Browns Bay Auckland

4        SHORE MARINE contact ALEX HASLER
Ph 09 443 2667 Fax 09 443 2660
92C Ell ice Rd Glenfield North Shore Auckland.

5        HOLIDAY OUTBOARD SERVICES & BOAT STORAGE
contact STUART ANDREW
Ph 09 448 1650 Fax 09 448 1651 Mob 021 797 988
holidayoutboards@xtra.co.nz wwwholidayoutboards.co.nz
209 Bush Rd Albany Auckland

6        GREENHITHE AUTOMOTIVE & MARINE contact PHIL KENNEDY
Ph 09 413 9515 Fax 09 413 7186 Mob 021 638 324
Email: gautom@xtra.co.nz www.greenhithemarine.co.nz
6 Greenhithe Rd Greenhithe Auckland

7       Mahurangi Marine Ltd Contact WAYNE ADKINS
Ph 09 425 5806 Fax 09 425 5817 Mobile 021 633 830
330 Mahurangi East Rd Snells Beach P.O.Box 120 Warkworth.

8       Matakana Marine & Engineering Ltd contact AARON STBECK
Ph 09 422 7822 Fax 09 422 7824 Mobile 021 429955
matakanamarine@xtra.co.nz www.matakanamarine.co.nz

8       The Brokerage GARY & DAVINA STEPHENSON
Ph 09 417 0240 Fax 09 417 0066 Mobile 0211269131
gpstephenson@xtra.co.nz www.thebrokerage.co.nz