Craft Risk Management Standard  
Issued under the Biosecurity Act 1993   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Vessels  
CRMS VESSELS  
13 June 2016  
 Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels    
Draft for Consultation  13 June 2016  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page  1 of 12 
TITLE  
Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels  
COMMENCEMEN T 
This Craft Risk Management Standard  comes into force on  [Effective Date]   
ISSUING AUTHORITY  
This Craft Risk Management Standard  is issued  by the Director -General or authorised delegate under section 
24G of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act)   
 
Dated at Wellington this ... day of ......... 2016  
 
 
Peter Thomson  
Director, Plants, Food & Environment  
Ministry for Primary Industries  
(acting under delegated authority of the Director -General)  
 
Contact for further information  
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
Regulation & Assurance Branch  
Plants, Food and Environment Directorate  
PO Box 2526,  
Wellington 6140  
Email: standards @mpi.govt.nz  
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Contents  Page 
Introduction  3 
Part 1:  General Requirements  5 
1.1 Application  5 
1.2 Incorporat ion by reference  5 
1.3 Definitions  5 
1.4 Required Information  5 
1.5 Risk Management  6 
Part 2:  Specific Requirements  8 
2.1  Short -stay vessels  8 
2.2  Long -stay vessels and other vessels  8 
Part 3:  Additional Requirements for Specific Regulated Pests  9 
Schedule 1 – Definitions  10 
Schedule 2 – Asian gypsy moth risk areas and risk periods  12 
 
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Introduction  
This introduction is not part of the standard,  but is intended to indicate its general effect.  
Purpose  
(1) The purpose of this standard  is to specif y the requirements needed to manage the above water 
biosecurity risks associated with vessels entering into New Zealand territor y. 
Background  
(1) Vessels entering New Zealand territory  after visiting the territory of another country  have the potential 
to be v ectors of exotic pests, disease agents and unwanted organisms . 
(2) The Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) prescribes requirements for the exclusion, eradication and effective 
management of pests and unwanted organisms in New Zealand. These organisms have the poten tial 
to cause harm to natural and physical resources and human health in New Zealand. The Ministry for 
Primary Industries (MPI) is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
(3) This Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS)  is developed  under the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act).  
It specifies the biosecurity risk management and information requirements that must be met when 
vessels enter New Zealand territor y.  Upon arrival verification that these requirements have been met 
will be carried  out (verification may include inspections) . 
Who should read this Craft Risk Management Standard ? 
(1) Operators and persons in charge of  vessels entering New Zealand territory . 
Why is this important?  
(1) In accordance with section 24J of the Act, the operator or person in charge of a vessel must take all 
reasonable steps to comply with this standard.  If the operator or person in charge of the vessel does 
not comply with this standard, an inspector or auth orised person may issue a compliance notice 
requiring compliance.   
(2) Section 154C of the Act provides that the person against whom a compliance order is made must - 
(a) comply with the order; and  
(b) do so within the period stated in the order, if a period is state d; and  
(c) pay all the costs and expenses of complying with the order, unless the order states otherwise.   
(3) Section 154N(11) of the Act states that a person commits an offence who fails to comply with a 
compliance order. Every person who commits an offence aga inst this section is liable on conviction, in 
the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, a fine not exceeding 
$50,000, or both: and in the case of a corporation, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.  
(4) The operator or person i n charge of a ny vessel that has risk goods on board may receive a direct ion 
from an inspector  under sections 19, 32 or 33 of the Act to take steps to manage those risk goods on 
board the vessel and, if these steps are not taken, the vessel may be directed to leave New Zealand . 
Equivalence  
An operator may submit a craft risk management plan for approval by the Director -General  under section 24K 
of the Act proposing alternative ways of managing the risks that this standard relates to . The Director -General 
will only approve a plan if satisfied that the requirements proposed in the plan allow risks to be managed to 
the same extent or to a greater extent than they can be managed under this standard . Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels    
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Costs  
The costs to the New Zealand Government in performing its biosecurity risk management functions relating to 
the arrival of vessels in accordance with the requirements of this standard  will be recovered as specified  by 
the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations  2010. 
Other requirements of the Act  
Arrival  
(1) In accordance with section 17 of the Act, if possible and practicable to do so, a vessel must arrive  in 
New Zealand at either : 
a) a place of first arrival   that has been approved by the Director -General  as suitable for the vessel 
type and the purpose for which it is arriving ; or 
b) a place for which special approval has been granted by the Director -General  for a specified 
vessel to arrive, or for vessels to arrive for a specified purpose,  under section 37A of the Act.  
Risk goods  
(1) In accordance with sections 18, 19 and 33 of the Act, no risk goods are permitted to be removed from 
a vessel  without the per mission of an inspector . 
(2) Where risk goods  are present on a vessel that arrived  from overseas , the person in charge of the 
vessel must follow every reasonable direction given by an inspector including to relocate the vessel or 
to manage the risk goods . 
(3) Other relevant standards for vessels include:  
a) Ballast water managed under the  Import Health Standard for Ships’ Ballast Water from All 
Countries .  
b) Biofouling managed under the Craft Risk Management Standard:  Biofouling on Vessels Arriving 
to New Zealand .  
c) Various i mport health standards managing the risks of  specific imported risk goods . 
Other information  
(1) The guida nce document that accompanies this standard  provides information on how the requirements 
may be met .  
(2) Please seek MPI guidance if you are unclear on any part of the standard  prior to entering or while the 
vessel is in New Zealand territory.  
(3) This standard  is not intended to be a complete summary of the obligations of operators or persons in 
charge of vessels under the Biosecurity Act 1993.  
 
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Part 1:  General Requirements   
1.1 Application  
(1) This standard applies to - 
a) All vessels that enter New Zealand territory except  those vessels that are passing through New 
Zealand territory on innocent or transit passage as defined in the United Nations Convention on 
Law of the Sea.  
b) All above water biosecurity risks associated with a vessel, including any particular risks identifie d 
in this standard .  
 
Guidance  
Nothing in this standard  is to be read as reducing or relieving the operators or persons in charge of a 
vessel of their responsibility to meet the requirements of other enactments or regulations including those 
relating to th e safety of the vessel, crew and passengers.  
 
1.2 Incorporation by reference  
(1) The following document  is incorporated by reference in this standard  under section 142M of the Act:  
a) The Schedule for Approved Biosecurity Treatments for Risk Goods Directe d for Trea tment (MPI -
STD-ABTRT).  
http://mpi.govt.nz/law -and-policy/requiremetns/transitional -facilities -standards/  
(2) Under section 142O(3) of the Act it is declared that section 142O(1) does not apply, that is, a notice 
under section 142(2) of the Act is not required to be published before material that amends or replaces 
any material incorporated by reference has legal effect as part of this standard.  
1.3 Definitions  
(1) Definitions of terms used in this standard are set out in Schedule  1.  
(2) Terms used in this standard  that a re defined in the Act have the meanings set out in the Act, unless a 
different meaning is given in Schedule 1 . 
1.4 Required Information  
(1) An operator, or person in charge, of a vessel must ensure that the information in subclause (2) and (3) 
below, is sent to, and received by MPI, in the manner approved by the Director -General, at least 48 
hours prior to the vessel’s entry into New Zealand territory.  
(2) Vessel details:  
a) Vessel name and IMO number  
b) Voyage number, if the vessel has one  
c) Vessel’s  registration num ber, if the vessel has one  
d) Radio call sign  
e) Vessel contact details  
f) Vessel type  
g) Country and port of registration, if registered  Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels    
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h) Name of the person in charge on board the vessel  
i) Name of the owner or charterer of the vessel  
j) Any previous names of the vessel  
k) Agent’s name and contact detail, if applicable  
(3) Voyage details:  
a) Estimated time of arrival (ETA)  in New Zealand territory; and  
b) ETA at first port of call in New Zealand  
c) Intended length of time in New Zealand territory  
d) List of all the ports of call in New Zealan d, with ETAs and  estimated time of departure after place 
of first arrival, if applicable  
e) Previous overseas ports and dates of calls for past 12 months  
f) Next overseas port after leaving New Zealand territory  
g) Any cargo destined for New Zealand  
h) Goods for landing by the crew and private equipment or belongings intended to be  used ashore, 
if applicable  
i) Details of live animals kept on -board (as pets), if applicable  
j) Details of and signs of any pests on -board  
k) Asian gypsy moth risk information: any risk  areas visited in the 12 months immediately preceding 
the vessel’s intended date for entry into New Zealand territory if that visit occurred during a risk 
period, any freedom from AGM certificate held  (showing time and date of inspection)  
l) Whether the vess el has carried livestock or bulk grain in the previous 3 months  
m) Whether the vessel has a pest management plan  
n) Whether the vessel has a garbage management plan  
o) Whether the vessel has any wood packaging or dunnage on -board  
p) Whether the vessel has any meat an d fresh produce on -board that is not of New Zealand origin.  
 
Guidance  
The required forms on which to provide the above information are available on website  including the 
Advance Notice of Arrival, Master’s Declaration, and Ballast Water / Biofouling Declarations .  
 
1.5 Risk Management  
(1) The operator or person in charge of any vessel must take all reasonable and practicable steps to 
ensure that when the vessel ent ers New Zealand territory, it is substantially clean, free of regulated 
pests  and biosecurity contamination.  
(2) While a vessel is within New Zealand territory, the operator or person in charge of the vessel, must 
ensure that:  
a) no risk goods (including food and garbage) are discharged overboard or otherwise leave the 
vessel other than for biosecurity clearance at a place of first arrival; and  
b) all risk goods are secured on the vessel; and  
c) where appl icable, the Asian gypsy moth (AGM) requ irements set out in Part 3 are complied with.  
(3) Subclause (2) does not apply to a vessel that has been granted written CRMS compliance in 
accordance with clause 2.2. 
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Guidance  
These requirements apply to all vessels while they are within New Zealand territor y until such time as 
either the vessel leaves New Zealand territory  or the  operator or person in charge has obtained written 
CRMS compliance for the vessel from MPI.  
Food waste that meets the criteria set out in Rule 170.6 of the New Zealand Maritime Prote ction Rules, is 
not considered a risk good for the purposes of this CRMS and is therefore not managed by this CRMS.  
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Part 2:  Specific Requirements  
2.1 Short-stay vessels  
(1) This clause applies to all vessels that enter New Zealand territory unless  the operator or person in 
charge of a vessel has given notice under clause 1.4 that the vessel:  
a) will remain in New Zealand territory for 21 consecutive days or longer ; or  
b) will visit areas other than places of first arrival.  
(2) The operator, or person in cha rge of the vessel must ensure that the vessel:  
a) only visits ports designated as places of first arrival with travel via the most direct route practical; 
and 
b) only remains in New Zealand territory for a maximum of 20 consecutive days from time of entry 
into New Zealand territory . 
2.2 Long -stay vessels and other vessels  
(1) This clause applies if an operator, or person in charge of a vessel gives notice under clause 1.4 that 
the vessel will:  
a) remain in New Zealand territory for 21 consecutive days or longer; or   
b) visit areas other than places of first arrival.  
(2) Before leaving the place of first arrival where the vessel first arrives in New Zealand, the operator or 
person in charge of the vessel must obtain a written confirmation from an inspector that:  
a) the vessel is free  of regulated pests and biosecurity contamination ; and  
b) any other risks goods have either:  
i) been removed from the vessel through an approved process ; or 
ii) biosecurity clearance under the Act . 
 
Guidance  
Garbage for recycling or disposal that has been segregated  from any risk goods (for example waste 
cardboard or glass for recycling) and has been approved by an inspector to be free of biosecurity risk and 
biosecurity contamination is not considered a risk good for the purposes of this CRMS and does not need 
to be  removed via an approved process  at a POFA.  
The intention is that short stay vessels will remain under biosecurity surveillance while in New Zealand 
territory as some risk goods may be kept on board. Verification that short stay vessel continue to comply 
with the requirements of this CRMS may involve inspections during their stay within New Zealand territory.  
However, long -stay and other vessels that have received written confirmation from an inspector under 
clause 1.7, are free to travel anywhere in New Z ealand without further biosecurity surveillance.   
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Part 3:  Additional Requirements for Specific Regulated Pests  
3.1 Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM)  
(1) The operator, or person in charge of a vessel, must ensure that the vessel is free of AGM when it 
enters New Zealand territory.  
 
(2) If the vessel has visited a risk area during the 12 months immediately preceding the vessel’s entry into 
New Zealand territory and that visit took place during a risk period for the risk area that the vessel 
visited, then the operator or person in charge of the vessel must ensure that the vessel does not enter 
New Zealand territory unless he or she has obtained, and can provide to an inspector on request,  a 
valid certificate of freedom from AGM.  
 
(3) If the vessel has visited more than one risk area during the  12 months immediately preceding the 
vessel’s entry into New Zealand territory and these visits took place within the corresponding risk 
period for the areas visited, a valid certificate freedom from AGM is required for the last risk area 
visited in the re levant risk period.  
 
Guidance  
Any vessel without a valid certificate of freedom from AGM will be inspected to check that it is free from all 
life stages of AGM.  The vessel may be required to be at a location at least 4 nautical miles from land for 
the ins pection. The operator will be responsible for the cost of inspection and any treatment or egg mass 
removal directed by the inspector.  
Schedule 2 provides details the AGM Risk Areas and Periods for AGM . 
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Schedule  1 – Definitions  
This schedule sets out the  definitions of terms used within this CRMS.  Unless a term has a specific definition 
listed below, then the meaning should be taken to be the same as that found in section 2 of  the Biosecurity 
Act 1993.  
Asian Gypsy  Moth ( AGM ) means all life stages of the following species of Asian Gypsy Moth  Lymantria 
dispar asiatica, Lymantria dispar japonica, Lymantria umbrosa, Lymantria  albescens and Lymantria  postalba . 
Approved process  means a process  approved as part of the approval of a place of first arrival under s ection 
37 of the Act.  
New Zealand territory (NZT) means the  land and the waters  enclosed by the outer limits of the territorial sea .  
Where territorial sea  has the meaning given to it in  section 3  of the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and 
Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977 . 
Place of first arrival (POFA) means a seaport that has been approv ed under section 37 of the Act as a place 
of first arrival  for vessels and risk goods.  
Regulated pest and biosecurity contamination means a risk good not intended for clearance under  the 
Act. For the purposes of this CRMS the following are exam ples of regulated pests and biosecurity 
contamination that are managed by this CRMS:  
a) Domestic waste and the vacuums from cabin, deck, hold and other internal areas;  
b) Animals and plants and parts thereof (for example, fruit, house plants, floral arrangement s, 
animal and plant waste);  
c) Soil; 
d) spillage from previous cargo in the hold; and  
e) Pests and their material such as nests or egg masses.  
Risk area means a country or an  area of a country th at a vessel may have visited where contamination with 
AGM is likely to  occur . If a vessel visits one or more of these areas during the risk period  the CRMS imposes 
requirements on a vessel operator to obtain certification of freedom from AGM after visiting there ; and listed in 
column 1 of Table 1 (Schedule 2) .  
Risk g oods :  as defined in section 2 of the Act.  For the purposes of this CRMS the following are examples of 
risk goods that are managed by this CRMS:  
a) Uncleared goods or cargo (for example cargo destined for another country and spillage from 
previous cargo in the hold);  
b) Wood packaging (for example dunnage);  
Risk period means the period in respect to a risk area when a visiting vessel is likely to become 
contaminated with AGM  due to it being the time for flight and egg laying by the female adults ; and listed in 
column 3 of Table 1 (Schedule 2).   
Secured  means prevented  from leaving or being removed from the vessel, including being removed by birds 
or vermin or prevented from releasing organisms that may establish in New Zealand. Appropriate methods of 
securing risk goods include the cook preventing access  to prohibited food items; garbage being kept in a leak -
proof, vermin , insect  and bird  proof container or room ; contaminated dunnage being kept inside a locker.  
Substantially  clean means s ubstantially free of rubbish , uncontained food, standing water, insects, rodents 
and other pest-type organisms  (including their nests and other signs ). 
Valid certificate of freedom  from AGM means a document that certifies that the vessel is free of AGM and 
that is:  Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels    
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 issued by  an inspection body that has been approved by the DG and  listed  on the website  at the 
time the certificate was issued ; and  
 based on a n inspection  undertaken  by that inspection body:  
– during daylights hours on the same day as the vessel depart s from the risk area; or  
– at a later time outside the risk period ; or 
– after the vessel has departed from the risk area.  
Vessel  means a ship as defined  in the Maritime Transport Act 1994 .  
Written CRMS Compliance  means an official document issued by an inspector that confirms , that at time of 
inspection, the vessel meets the requirements of the CRMS and clears the vessel from biosecurity monitoring . Craft Risk Management Standard : Vessels    
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Schedule  2 – Asian gypsy moth risk areas and risk periods  
 Schedule 2: Asian Gypsy Moth Risk Areas and Risk period s 
Column 1  Column 2  Column 3  
Risk Area  Requirements apply where visited any ports  Specified Risk 
Period  
Russian Far 
East south of 60o North and west of 147o longitude (excluding 
those ports on the Kamchatka Peninsula)  July1 to 
September 30  
China  north of latitude of 31o 15’ N   June 1 to 
September 30  
Republic of 
Korea  In all areas  June 1 to 
September 30  
Japan – 
Northern  in prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, 
Fukushima  July 1 to 
September 30  
Japan 
Western  in prefectures of Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa  June 25 to 
September 15  
Japan - 
Eastern  in prefectures of Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, 
Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie  June 20 to 
August 20  
Japan - 
Southern  in prefectures of Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, 
Shimane, Okay ama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, 
Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, 
Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima  June 1 to 
August 10  
Japan - Far 
Southern  in prefecture of Okinawa  May 25 to 
June 30