Introduced on November 10. The Bill makes a number of amendments to the Maritime Transport Act. It would require commercial maritime operators to have drug and alcohol management plans, including random testing for staff carrying out safety sensitive activities. The Bill will increase legal liability for companies in the event of a major oil tanker spill and exclude the costs of wreck removal, cargo removal and remediating damage from hazardous substances from liability limits. All parties supported the Bill at its first reading on November 16 and it was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee for consideration. Reported back on May 16 with a number of changes. Labour and the Greens wrote a minority report objecting to the new addition of mandatory random drug testing and changes allowing foreign-registered ships to carry freight to the Chatham Islands. Second reading completed on Aug 16 with National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future in support. Committee stage begun on Dec 5 with the Minister responsible Julie Ann Genter introducing amendments to reverse the addition of mandatory random drug testing and allowing foreign-registered ships to carry freight to the Chatham Islands. Genter said the law would still allow for drug and alcohol management on ships. This included testing in the work place in some circumstances and for testing following an incident.  The Authority could also ensure testing took place if it was felt to be needed. She said a mandatory drug testing framework was unnecessary and would impose large unnecessary costs on small operators. Allowing foreign vessels to take freight to the Chathams could undermine the current non-profit shipping company and lead to its demise and end up driving up shipping costs to the islands. Committee stage completed on Dec 6 with National indicating opposition to the changes in the bill. Third reading interrupted on Dec 7 and completed on Dec 12.

   Maritime Transport Amendment Bill