A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, the HMNZS Manawanui, sank off the coast of Samoa after running aground during a reef survey on Saturday night. All 75 crew members and passengers aboard were safely rescued, according to a statement from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) on Sunday.
The Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, encountered trouble near the southern coast of Upolu. Responding swiftly, several nearby vessels assisted in evacuating the crew and passengers, who had to leave the sinking ship in lifeboats. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to aid in the rescue operation.
Despite the rescue efforts, the NZ$103 million ship, purchased by the New Zealand government in 2018, could not be saved. Photos and videos from local media showed the ship heavily listing and emitting thick grey smoke before it capsized and submerged completely by 9 a.m. local time on Sunday.
Commodore Shane Arndell, the maritime component commander of the NZDF, confirmed that the cause of the grounding remains unclear and will require further investigation. In a press conference, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, stated that a plane would bring the rescued crew back to New Zealand, noting that some had sustained minor injuries while crossing the reef.
New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasized the need to understand the cause of the accident to prevent future occurrences. The focus is now on salvaging what remains of the vessel and assessing environmental impacts.
Samoan emergency services and Australian Defence personnel collaborated in the rescue efforts, coordinated by the New Zealand Rescue Centre.
Manawanui is typically used for diving, salvage, and survey tasks across New Zealand and the South West Pacific. Its loss comes at a challenging time for New Zealand’s Navy, which is already operating at reduced capacity due to personnel shortages.