New Zealand Navy Loses 1st Ship At Sea Since WW II After It Catches Fire & Sinks

A Royal New Zealand Navy ship, HMNZS Manawanui, sank off the coast of Samoa after running aground and catching fire, per the New Zealand Defence Force on October 6, 2024.

All 75 crew members and passengers were safely rescued, though few sustained minor injuries. This is New Zealand’s first naval ship lost at sea since World War II.

During a reef survey on October 5 (Saturday), the HMNZS Manawanui, a speciality diving and hydrographic vessel, ran aground off the southern coast of Upolu Island, Samoa.

The New Zealand Defence Force stated that the crew and passengers were evacuated onto lifeboats in challenging conditions before being rescued by nearby vessels.

Among those onboard were scientific personnel and foreign military members involved in the mission.

By Sunday morning, the 84-meter-long, 5,700-tonne ship had capsized and sunk beneath the surface, with thick grey smoke rising from the area after the vessel caught fire.

The cause of the grounding remains unknown, but it was reported that the ship might have lost power before the incident.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was dispatched to help with the rescue, and authorities are now investigating the incident.

Per the New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins, it will take time to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the vessel’s grounding.

Collins stated that efforts are being made to salvage the ship’s remains and assess the incident’s environmental impact.

Just watch the HMNZS Manawanui burn and sink. Sad day for NZ and locals pic.twitter.com/XBMNfC3XJ1

— Dave Poole (@pooliecoast) October 5, 2024

Image Credits: Dave Poole/X

The government of Samoa expressed concern about a potential fuel spill, with the nation’s acting Prime Minister, Tuala Tevaga losefo Ponifasio warning that a spill was highly probable.

The area is being closely monitored for any environmental damage.

The New Zealand Defence Force said it is working with local authorities to reduce the environmental impact.

On Sunday, New Zealand’s Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, confirmed that a plane was deployed to bring the rescued crew and passengers back to New Zealand.

The captain of the vessel was an experienced commander who had spent two years aboard the Manawanui. Golding assured that the ship had undergone its regular maintenance before the mission.

While most of the rescued crew were unharmed, some sustained minor injuries, including scrapes from walking across the reef.

Samoan emergency services and Australian Defence personnel with help from New Zealand’s rescue coordination centre.

The HMNZS Manawanui, purchased by New Zealand in 2018 for NZ$103 million, was used for various specialist operations, including diving, hydrographic surveys, and salvage operations in New Zealand and the South West Pacific.

The vessel, originally from Norway, had been in service with the Royal New Zealand Navy since 2019.

The New Zealand Navy has been operating at reduced capacity due to personnel shortages, and three of its nine ships remain inactive.

The New Zealand Defence Force has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, including a court of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the grounding.

Reference: Reuters, AP News

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