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The Royal New Zealand Navy has been forced to take action after an independent review into their seamanship.
The review by the Royal Navy was sparked by the death of Byron Solomon last October when an inflatable boat on the HMNZS Canterbury capsized because of equipment failure.
The review criticised the safety awareness at all levels within the Navy and recommended urgent action.
It found flaws in the NZ Navy's safety practices and training. Little thought was given for personal safety, it found. For the majority of tasks, there was poor preparation, execution and a lack of safety awareness at all levels and this was a major concern, the report said.
Now the Navy is planning on employing a seamanship safety officer and reviewing the training they give their new recruits.
Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, says a number of improvements are to be introduced to training and the conduct of exercises at sea as a result of the review.
"Being able to do seamanship the safe way and the right way is fundamental to the Navy being able to operate its ships at sea - around New Zealand and further afield," says Ledson.
He says he will soon appoint an officer who will be responsible for re-establishing seamanship as a core Navy skill and with implementing all the recommendations of the review.
The Commanding Officer of each Navy ship has been directed to review their current practices in line with the Royal Navy review and a Petty Officer Safety Course will also be developed.
Ledson says the RNZN initiated the review after a Court of Inquiry into the death of Solomon made a number of observations about seamanship.
While the observations did not contribute to the capsize incident, they did identify issues around the conduct of seamanship training, competencies and practices in the Navy, he says.
