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Maritime Transport Act 1994

Duties in relation to maritime activity - Duties in relation to crewing

23: Employer’s duties in relation to seafarers on New Zealand ships

You could also call this:

"What your boss must do to look after you on a New Zealand ship"

Illustration for Maritime Transport Act 1994

You work on a New Zealand ship as a seafarer. Your employer must give you suitable food and water. They must also pay for your medical care if you get sick while overseas. If the ship is lost, your employer pays your wages for two months or until you get a new job. Your employer has to keep a record of your employment on the ship. They must give you a copy of this record if you ask for it. If your employer owes you wages, you can get them back like you would with your normal pay. You can find more information about your rights as a seafarer in the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM335668.

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Work and jobs > Worker rightsHealth and wellbeing > Public healthHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare services

Part 3Duties in relation to maritime activity
Duties in relation to crewing

23Employer’s duties in relation to seafarers on New Zealand ships

  1. Every employer of seafarers on a New Zealand ship shall—

  2. provide food and water supplies which, having regard to the size of the crew and the duration and nature of the voyage, are suitable in respect of quantity, nutritive value, quality, and variety; and
    1. ensure that any seafarer requiring medical attention while overseas receives all necessary medical attention at the employer’s expense; and
      1. in the event of the loss or foundering of the ship, pay to every seafarer wages at the normal rate until—whichever first occurs; and
        1. the seafarer is otherwise employed; or
          1. the expiry of 2 months from the date of the loss or foundering,—
          2. maintain a record (in a form prescribed or in a form approved by the Director) of the employment on board a New Zealand ship of every seafarer employed on that ship by that employer and provide to a seafarer, if requested by that seafarer, a copy of the record applying to that seafarer.

            1. Any wages payable under subsection (1) shall be recoverable in the same manner as wages earned by the seafarer during his or her normal employment.