Field           Service Sector

Registration of skill standard and review of unit standards for Port Machinery Operations

Subfield	Domain	ID
Stevedoring and Ports Industry	Port Machinery Operations	17161, 20052, 28902, 28903, 28904

Hanga-Aro-Rau Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics Workforce Development Council has completed the review of the unit standards listed above and the registration of the skill standard in the table below.

Date new versions published                                                               June 2025

Planned review date                                                                              December 2030

Summary

Hanga-Aro-Rau Manufacturing, Engineering, and Logistics Workforce Development Council met with industry stakeholders including operators, trainers, employers and providers between November 2024 and March 2025 to review heavy port machinery standards.

Previously standards had been set up to specifically assess individual machinery, but these were not being used by providers and instead most learners were completing the more generic unit standard 28904: Operate heavy port machinery. While ideally industry would like to keep separate standards for specific machines, they recognised the need for provision, so the group focused on improving unit standard 28904 to ensure it is robust and meets industry needs. The decision was made to develop a new skill standard in its place.

The recent changes to the New Zealand Certificate in Port Operations (Level 3) with strands in Port Administration, Cargo Handling, and Heavy Machine Operation [Ref: 5256], specifically dropping the credit value of the heavy port machinery strand from 40 to 25 credits, was an additional consideration when allocating the credit value to the skill standard to replace unit standard 28904.

Port industry discussions were undertaken with other related industry stakeholders from logistics and warehousing who have also shown support for retaining individual machinery standards but supported developing a skill standard that can be used for heavy machinery in a range of environments.

Main changes

· Unit standard 28904 was replaced by new skill standard 40757. The reduction in credit value reflects the reduction in evidence requirements from three machines to one.

· Reference to ‘port’ was not included in skill standard 40757 to allow its use in a wider range of industries.

· Range statement in unit standard 28902 was amended. Guidance information was updated to include current Maritime New Zealand resource information.

· No expiry date has been set for superseded versions of unit standards with Category B changes. This is to support provision of training through a transitional period.

Category C unit standards will expire at the end of December 2028.

Detailed list of unit and skill standards – classification, title, level, and credits

All changes are in bold.

Key to review category
A	Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
B	Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
C	Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID
D	Standard will expire and not be replaced

Engineering and Technology > Stevedoring and Ports Industry > Port Machinery Operations

ID	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
17161	Operate a straddle carrier	3	6	B
20052	Operate a lift truck for cargo operations	3	5	B
28902	Demonstrate knowledge of faults and the preparation required to operate heavy port machinery	3	5	B
28903	Demonstrate knowledge of the safe operation of heavy port machinery	3	5	B
28904 40757	Operate heavy port machinery Operate heavy machinery to lift, shift and place cargo	3	30 15	C