Preparing your vessel for the summer

Hull fouling is the build-up of marine organisms such as algae, barnacles, and seaweed on a boat's underwater surface; and it is by far the biggest risk for transferring marine pests throughout New Zealand’s marine environment.

A dirty hull could also ruin your holiday plans, as there are strict marine biosecurity rules in place for the Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman regions.

Fouling on your vessel's hull and niche areas must not exceed ‘light fouling’ where macrofouling (such as barnacles, seaweed, or algae) is present in small patches, isolated individuals, or small colonies, covering 1–5% of the submerged surface area of a vessel, unless:

• You're entering for a haul-out, which must happen within 24 hours.
• There's an emergency affecting the safety of the craft or the people on board.
• There's a declared state of emergency.

This rule does not apply if:

• Your craft has met New Zealand's Craft Risk Management Standard - Vessels for Bio-fouling.
• Your craft is usually moored in the Tasman-Nelson region and leaves for no more than three days before returning.

Marinas and ports can also impose requirements on visiting vessels and may refuse service if these are not met. Many marinas implement the "6 or 1" rule, requiring visiting boats to provide evidence that they have been anti-fouled in the last six months, or have been hauled out and cleaned in the last month after leaving an area infected by marine pests.

Vessel inspections will be carried out across the region throughout the summer to ensure boaties are adhering to these rules. Make use of the winter period to prepare your vessel and play your part in protecting New Zealand’s waters.

We recommend that you:

1. Haul out at least annually, and anytime there is a build-up of fouling. Using an approved haul-out facility means that any bio-fouling and anti-fouling chemicals are captured and disposed of without harm to the environment.

2. Apply anti-fouling to your vessel. Anti-fouling coatings are the best weapon against marine pests. An anti-fouled boat that is clean and well-maintained will also have improved performance and fuel efficiency.

• Check niche areas such as the keel, intakes and outlets, propellers and shafts, rudders and casings. These are prime locations for harbouring pests as they are not applied with antifoul products.

We advise booking space at your preferred haul-out ahead of the busy summer season.
A list of facilities is available at www.marinepests.nz/hauling-out.