Your D endorsement and the Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005 get your load as far as the ferry terminal, but different rules apply once it’s on the boat. These are the questions drivers and managers ask most often about crossing Cook Strait with dangerous goods.
Maritime rules. Dangerous goods crossing Cook Strait come under Maritime New Zealand’s regulations and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Many of the requirements differ from the road rules you trained on.
Yes. For Interislander, declare dangerous goods through its Passport portal, which is the preferred method. Alternatively, email a declaration manifest to the dangerous goods team at least four hours before the scheduled departure.
The same maritime rules apply, but Bluebridge has its own booking and declaration process. Check its requirements directly before you book.
No. The manifest is advance notice only. Your dangerous goods declaration must stay with the vehicle, available for inspection.
The manifest asks for more detail than most road documents carry:
– the UN number, proper shipping name and, for N.O.S. entries, the technical name
– the packing group and, for Class 3 goods or goods with a Class 3 subsidiary risk, the flash point
– the weight, volume, and number and type of packages
– a stowage plan showing where the goods sit in the unit
– an after-hours contact name and number
Yes, twice. Every commercial vehicle carrying dangerous goods is inspected at the terminal before it’s given a place on board, and the loading deck mate checks it again once it’s on the vessel. They check the paperwork and placards against the IMDG Code, check compliance with NZ transport law, look for leaks or unusual smells, and make sure old placards that no longer apply have been removed. If a vehicle doesn’t meet the requirements, Interislander will refuse passage.
Interislander requires placards on the front and rear of the transport unit, and it no longer stocks placards at its terminals. A vehicle without the correct placards won’t sail until it gets them. Maritime placarding requirements can differ from the road rules, so check the IMDG requirements for your load before you leave the depot.
No. On the ferry, a required separation of 3m or 6m means separation from the entire unit, not within it. Two incompatible goods that are legally segregated on your deck can still create a stowage problem for the ship.
Not always. Category A dangerous goods can travel on passenger sailings, but Category D and E goods are limited to freight-only sailings. Book the wrong sailing and you’ll be waiting for the next suitable one.
Yes. Under the IMDG Code, training is mandatory for everyone in the sea transport chain of dangerous goods, including consignors, shippers, forwarders, container packers, and booking staff. If your dispatchers book ferry crossings for dangerous goods, they need training in the maritime requirements as well as the road rules.
Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above
