New rules around vehicle emissions create busy spell for MAFBNZ car inspectors
Loading top deck of a car carrier berthed
in Kawasaki. Photo: Prue Thornton, Kawasaki.
Recent government changes to emissions regulations for imported vehicles spelt a massive increase in workload for Japan-based Quarantine Inspectors checking a deluge of cars before shipment to New Zealand.
The new regulation came into effect on 1 February, creating a rush of last minute December and January shipments of vehicles that wouldn't meet the new emissions regulations requirements.
For several years, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) Quarantine Inspectors have been deployed to Japan to pre-inspect used vehicles on behalf of operators based there. These include Autoterminal Japan, Hoegh Autoliners (previously KCC), JEVIC Co Ltd and Toyofuji Shipping Co Ltd. There are currently 15 Quarantine Inspectors working out of 12 different inspection sites – Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya, and Yokohama, Kawasaki, Kisarazu and Funabashi in the Tokyo Bay area.
These Quarantine Inspectors all worked long hours through the Japanese winter to assist the four local Japanese operators to meet this shipping demand. Many of the inspectors who were in Japan through the winter months say the time passed in a blur. The new regulation saw 11,425 pre-inspected vehicles being landed in New Zealand in January.
Some sites were presented with many large and unusual diesel vehicles for clearance – working out what some of them were was a challenge!
While the sites are spread across the island of Honshu, everyone was very supportive of colleagues at other sites, even if it meant travelling to different cities to help out.
Despite the heavy workload, there was still time to join in the seasonal activities. While Christmas in Japan is mostly a shopping experience (no bad thing!) accompanied by great displays of lights in the big cities, New Year is observed by most as a religious holiday. Extra trains run through the night of New Year's Eve - not only to get people home from celebrations but to take them to shrines and temples so they can start the year off on the right note. The tradition of starting the year with a prayer or wish for good luck and the wellbeing of their family is strong.
There are always festivals, and spring opens with the early plum blossom viewing, soon be followed by the splendid sight of the flowering cherry trees and the picnics held beneath them.
The 'off duty' pictures shown here have been taken by MAFBNZ Quarantine Inspectors and give an idea of their work environment and the local culture.
- Sue Gould, Team Manager Offshore, MAFBNZ, Sue.Gould@maf.govt.nz
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Page last updated: 12 June 2008