Drop anchor

Auckland Council has dropped a proposed daily anchoring fee which would have seen superyachts and other foreign-flagged vessels of over 40-metres billed for each time they anchored within Auckland’s navigable waters.

NZ Marine has worked closely with Auckland Council, resulting in a proposed daily anchoring fee for foreign flagged vessels in Auckland’s harbour being dropped.

“Working with Auckland Council, experts from within our own organisation, NZ Marine, as well as from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Emirates Team New Zealand, were able to help Council appreciate just how much of a deterrent a daily anchoring fee would have been to foreign vessels planning to visit our shores, particularly for the Prada and America’s Cup in 2020/21” says Peter Busfield, executive director, NZ Marine.

Auckland Council has worked with the marine industry to drastically overhaul the plan; settling on a new, visitor-friendly small 12 month navigation and safety fee for vessels over 40 metres in length. The services covered by the fee include the Harbourmaster maintaining navigation aids and maritime safety functions, including assisting masters of visiting yachts over 40 metres in length to find sheltered and suitable anchorages amongst the more than 50 islands that fill Auckland’s beautiful and renown Hauraki Gulf.