New Zealand Navy Nears Fuel Removal Operation For Sunken Manawanui Ship

The New Zealand Defence Force is in its final stage to complete the removal of fuel from the wreck of the HMNZS Manawanui, a navy ship that sank off the coast of Samoa in October after running aground.

After weeks of environmental concerns and damage assessments, the NZDF announced that it is about to secure a contract with a salvage company to manage the complex fuel extraction process.

Plans are underway to mobilize salvage teams and equipment, NZDF spokesperson Commodore Andrew Brown said.

The salvage team will soon start cleaning the fuel and other pollutants from the ship. It recently conducted a site inspection with Samoan authorities.

Brown mentioned that the recovery involves careful planning and coordination, especially since the ship’s main fuel tanks are still intact.

Samoan residents and local conservationists have raised concerns about possible environmental damage since the Manawanui sank.

Residents spotted seeing oil-like substance and debris around the wreck site.

The Samoan authorities warned people living on the southwest coast of Upolu not to eat fish from the region due to contamination risks.

Samoan officials have also urged New Zealand to provide compensation for the environmental impact.

Three large shipping containers that had landed on a coral reef during the incident were recently removed by the NZDF to prevent further damage.

Commodore Brown said the operation took four days to complete because the containers posed a risk of shifting on the reef and causing coral damage.

The NZDF is investigating the cause of the incidents that led to the grounding and sinking of the Manawanui.

The interim court of inquiry report focused on determining the circumstances surrounding the incident and was sent to Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding.

According to Golding, the report, which is still in its early stages, aims to determine what happened, while a more comprehensive report is expected by late February.

Rear Admiral Golding said that the lessons learned from the incident will help understand future operational protocols.

The NZDF will continue to have an active presence in Samoa until the fuel removal and other recovery phases are completed, with Navy personnel present to help with salvage operations and keep an eye on environmental conditions.

The NZDF has reaffirmed its commitment to protect the local ecosystem from any further impacts of the tragedy, and daily drone surveillance is still in place over the wreck site.

On October 5, the HMNZS Manawanui was conducting a hydrographic survey mission near a Samoan reef when it encountered rough seas and struck a reef.

All 75 crew members made it safely to shore despite the damage. However, some were hurt while crossing the reef. Authorities in New Zealand and Samoa responded immediately to the ship’s quick listing and sinking.

Reference: NZDF

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