New Zealand Navy Ship Sank Due To Inadequate Training & Poor Risk Management

A final Court of Inquiry report has revealed that the sinking of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ship HMNZS Manawanui off the coast of Samoa in October 2024 was caused by a combination of human errors, inadequate training, and poor risk management.

The ship ran aground on a reef during a hydrographic survey mission on October 5, and it sank the next day.

The 75 crew members onboard evacuated safely. The HMNZS Manawanui was one of only nine naval ships in the country and the first to be lost at sea since World War II.

The final inquiry report, released on Friday, identified 12 key factors that led to the incident beyond the direct cause. These included:

• Training and experience gaps among key personnel
• Failures in Military Hydrographic Planning
• Deficiencies in orders, instructions, and procedures
• Weak operational risk assessment
• Problems with force generation and operational release
• Lack of supervision and leadership issues
• Violations of protocols
• Time pressure and haste affecting decision-making
• Distractions and interruptions during critical moments
• Overall weakness in operational capability, termed as ‘hollowness’

Commodore Melissa Ross, the president of the Court of Inquiry, stated that the crew lacked sufficient training and qualifications, and risks related to the survey task were not properly identified, discussed or mitigated.

The report also found that leadership was weak in some areas and the level of supervision was lower than expected.

The inquiry also confirmed an earlier finding from an interim report released in November 2024, which stated that the crew did not realise the ship was on autopilot.

As the vessel moved towards the reef, they mistakenly believed something else was causing the issue, leading to a critical delay in response.

A transcript included in the report captured the confusion on the ship’s bridge, with a crew member commenting that the vessel was “not really doing what I want it to do” as they struggled to change course.

The final report proposed nine key recommendations to improve safety and operational standards, covering:

• Risk management improvements
• Better orders, instructions, and procedures
• Stronger force generation strategies
• Enhanced seaworthiness and operational release processes
• Improved training and qualifications
• Strengthening hydrographic capabilities
• Upgrading lifesaving equipment and protocols
• Addressing gaps in operational readiness

Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding acknowledged that immediate actions had already been taken based on early findings from the interim report.

Changes to risk assessment tools, critical incident management procedures, and documentation oversight have been implemented.

“We have not waited until the final report to start making improvements,” Rear Admiral Golding stated. He added that the Navy is now focused on long-term solutions, including a major transformation program to reform how operations are carried out.

The lack of trained personnel is a growing concern with experts warning that the Navy has been forced to take risks due to its stretched resources.

New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins commented that the entire military needs a serious upgrade to avoid similar incidents in the future.

After the vessel’s sinking, people were concerned about the environmental damage to the reef and surrounding waters near Upolu, Samoa’s second-largest island.

Villagers feared a long-term impact on the marine ecosystem, but Samoa’s scientific research agency later confirmed that seawater and marine life in the area remain uncontaminated.

The New Zealand military removed diesel fuel and other pollutants from the ship. Salvage teams are still working to recover equipment and weapons from the wreck, but a final decision on whether to remove the sunken vessel has not yet been made.

A no-fishing zone, initially imposed around the wreck site, was lifted by Samoa’s government in February 2025.

Rear Admiral Golding stated that publishing the full inquiry report was essential for public trust, stating, “The sinking of a Navy ship is an incredibly serious event. The public deserves to understand what happened, and we must be transparent to prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The report also recognised the bravery of those who ensured a safe evacuation, while disciplinary investigations may be carried out for some unnamed crew members.

“This has been a tough moment for the Navy,” Golding admitted. “Our reputation has taken a hit, but we will learn from this and move forward.”

Reference: NZDF

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction