Speeches 

As an island nation, New Zealand has always had a love affair with the sea. Our initial discovery and commerce has been based around ships of various shapes and sizes.

 This government has recognised this, recently launching Sea Change, with a boost of 36 million dollars over four years to revitalise and transform coastal shipping.  Part of an integrated transport system, coastal shipping will take its rightful place in our 21st century that has imperatives of climate change and sustainability.

 Sea transport makes sense as an environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost-effective alternative for moving freight around the country.

With increased sea traffic comes more potential for hazards and accidents. But safety and security will always be at the heart of any transport strategy. The vision for the 2008 New Zealand Transport Strategy, to be launched tomorrow, is that ‘people and freight in New Zealand have access to an affordable, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system'.

The government has also invested heavily in assets to patrol our waters. These investments include new naval ships, upgrades of the P3 Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft and new police launches.

Although we are a small country, we have a very long coastline. We are surrounded by a vast body of water - and with weather so changeable that it can catch out the most experienced seafarers.

In 2004, I had the pleasure of opening New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre which has made round-the-clock search and rescue coordination a reality. Logically, the centre is co-located at the Maritime Operations Centre. From there, Kordia provides distress and safety radio coverage of the coastline - and the AIS extended network we are celebrating tonight.

Kordia have combined the AIS transponder - and the navigational details it can report - with the functionality of Google earth images. A picture may not actually be worth a thousand words, but it certainly helps in this case. Now we have a web-based, graphic representation with real time data.

Benefits of vessel tracking

Implementing a nationwide AIS network will provide significant benefits in maritime security, navigational safety, search and rescue and environmental protection.

With the AIS network going live at key sites around New Zealand coastal waters, real time monitoring can now take place of any vessel that carries an approved AIS transponder, (Under the IMO Safety of Life at Sea Convention, vessels over 300 gross tons must operate AIS transponders.) These devices can identify the vessel's name and details, speed, position, course, size and type - all in real time. The pilot project has, on many occasions, shown the value of being able to track vessels in this way.

With the cheaper, lower power Class B transponders now available, there is an added opportunity for AIS use by recreational, fishing and small commercial vessels around the New Zealand coastline. Commercial operators of all sizes should find these a handy alternative to high-end vessel management systems.

Real-time AIS information also has efficiency benefits for those who manage the comings and goings of vessels at ports, including maritime safety inspectors, customs and immigration officials. AIS can provide additional information for coordinating search and rescue operations, and also for responding to marine emergencies and environmental tasks. I understand it even has the ability to broadcast the position of navigational aids such as buoys and beacons.

With any technological advance, further benefits present themselves as other applications and are developed.

To conclude, I'd like to offer congratulations to Kordia for their initiative and enterprise in developing an AIS network, and also the pilot AIS scheme. This ‘testing of the waters' clearly demonstrated the benefits of this technology. I also congratulate Maritime New Zealand for recognising the need for AIS, and leading on the value of vessel tracking.

Kordia's network opens the door to national AIS access. I look forward to seeing New Zealand's maritime community making the most of instant identity at sea.

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