Commercial shipping
There are four harbours in the Canterbury region, including the two commercial ports - Lyttelton (operated by Lyttelton Port Company Limited) and Timaru (operated by PrimePort Timaru Limited) - as well as Akaroa and Kaikōura Harbours. Commercial vessels include all cargo vessels, cruise ships, fishing vessels, ferries and tourism operators throughout the region.
Key information
Notification is required to undertake hot work on board any vessel in Lyttelton or Timaru.
The specific approval of the Harbourmaster is required to undertake hot work:- on any large vessel at Akaroa or Kaikoura
- aboard vessels carrying certain hazardous cargoes; or
- in/around fuel tanks/pipework.
Details are available within part 6.1(2) of Harbourmaster's Direction 16-1. If the hot work is to be carried out under the conditions listed, you must contact the Harbourmaster's Office directly by emailing harbourmaster@ecan.govt.nz (or, if urgent, contact 03 328 9168) for approval.
For all other hot work notifications, please fill in the hot work form online.
- Notice of the arrival of a ship carrying oil, or any noxious liquid substance, in bulk as cargo must be given not later than 12 hours before the arrival of the ship at port.
- Notice of the transfer of oil or of any noxious liquid substance must be given not less than three hours, but not more than 96 hours before the transfer is due to begin.
Important rules and bylaws
- 5.7MB Navigation Safety Bylaw 2016 and Controls
- 237.6kB Harbourmaster's Direction 19-1, Lyttelton no wake zone, 14 January 2019
- 4.8MB Kaikōura Peninsula Navigation Safety Operating Requirements
- 6.9MB Akaroa Harbour Navigation Safety Operating Requirements
- 8.5MB Harbourmaster's Direction 16-1 Version 1.2 25 February 2020
- 398.1kB NS Bylaw 2016 Reservation for Access Lane - Lyttelton Inner Harbour - 08 May 2019
- 43.7kB Guidance to Ship Operators , Industry and Port Companies on vessel emissions, scrubbers and fuel use