Victory for Holcim workers as Government backs local seafarers

The Government has answered a mayday call from Timaru-based seafarers who were set to be replaced with overseas workers.

The Associate Transport Minister and local MP James Meager has declined NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers’ (NACC) application to operate a foreign-flagged vessel carrying Holcim cement on the New Zealand coast.

It comes after the entire crew of the Timaru-based MV Buffalo cement ship were set to be made redundant from the carrier just a month before Christmas.

The failed application for an exemption under Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act sought permission for the Panamanian-flagged and overseas-crewed NACC Vega to replace the New Zealand-flagged and crewed MV Buffalo.

Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) believes the minister has made the right decision.

National secretary Carl Findlay says the situation was a clear test of protecting Kiwi jobs, and this decision sends a strong message to Holcim about its obligations to New Zealand.

“It’s fantastic news for New Zealand workers and the sea-faring industry,” Findlay said.

“The decision confirms New Zealand law cannot be ignored and side-stepped by multinational corporations seeking to destroy local jobs through the Flag of Convenience shipping.”

Findlay believed that with so many of New Zealand’s highly skilled workers leaving to go overseas, “this has shown there is something worth staying here and fighting for”.

“This is a great step in thinking about how we can protect the security of this industry going forward.”

In a statement, Meager said: “Under New Zealand maritime law, coastal cargo can generally only be carried by a New Zealand ship. Foreign ships may carry coastal cargo under certain situations.

“The intent of section 198 of the act is to protect New Zealand coastal shipping for local commercial interests. While authorisations can be granted under section 198(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, these are typically for single journeys on New Zealand’s coast to meet a short-term need.

“In this case, I was not satisfied Nova’s application met the requirements of the act.”

Findlay explained that a lot of things need to be discussed with Holcim following today’s announcement.

“Holcim must now accept their plan to replace experienced New Zealand crews with foreign labour has failed – and commit to supporting New Zealand shipping and retaining local jobs.”

The union claims Holcim’s previous threat to use road transport for its cement if it did not get its way was “nonsense and a bluff”.

“It’s not practical in the amount of concrete they need to ship – it needs to be coastal vessels,” Findlay said.

“Delivering concrete around the country is a key piece of infrastructure we can’t operate without, so hopefully common sense will prevail.

“The highly skilled crew of the MV Buffalo is ready, willing and able to continue serving New Zealand’s coastal distribution network.

“The crew are all very happy and pleased with this chapter being closed.”