On October 5th, a New Zealand naval vessel found itself in a precarious situation when it ran aground and sank off the coast of Samoa during a coral reef survey. Thankfully, all 75 crew members were successfully rescued. This incident involved the HMNZS Manawanui, a ship that was launched just five years ago following a substantial investment of NZD 103 million (about USD 63.4 million).
Reports from Pacific media indicate that the New Zealand Defense Force confirmed the grounding took place in the evening. The crew managed to evacuate the ship using lifeboats and other vessels after the HMNZS Manawanui struck a reef near Upolu Island, the smaller of Samoa’s two main islands.
Local media shared dramatic footage and images capturing the moment the ship, which began service in late 2019, started to sink amid rising smoke. The swift loss of such a new asset prompts questions about the circumstances leading to this incident.
In a statement on Facebook, the Samoa Police Corrections and Rehabilitation Services highlighted that local emergency units, along with Australian defense personnel, worked closely with New Zealand’s rescue center to coordinate the rescue efforts.
The Manawanui was primarily involved in various professional diving, salvage, and surveying operations throughout New Zealand’s waters and the southwestern Pacific.
