New Zealand navy ship sinks off Samoa, all 75 onboard rescued

A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, the Manawanui, sank off the coast of Samoa, but all 75 crew and passengers were safely rescued, according to the New Zealand Defence Force.

The Manawanui, a dive and hydrographic vessel, ran aground near Upolu Island during a reef survey on Saturday night.

Commodore Shane Arndell, the maritime commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, confirmed that multiple vessels assisted in the rescue operation.

The crew and passengers abandoned the ship in lifeboats, with a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft deployed to aid the rescue efforts. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported, though some of those rescued sustained minor injuries from walking across the reef.

The ship was reported to have capsized by 9 a.m. local time on Sunday and is now submerged.

Video footage and photographs from the scene show the vessel listing heavily, with thick grey smoke billowing before it went under.

The New Zealand Defence Force is working closely with authorities to assess the environmental impact and potential salvage operations.

Defence Minister Judith Collins stated that the focus would be on salvaging what remains of the vessel. She acknowledged that the incident was challenging for everyone involved, adding that it would take time to process the event and determine the cause of the grounding.

Collins emphasized the importance of identifying the root cause to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

Rescue operations were coordinated by Samoan emergency services, with support from Australian Defence personnel and the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.

The Manawanui was commissioned by the New Zealand government in 2018 for NZ$103 million.

It is a specialist vessel designed for a range of tasks, including diving, salvage, and hydrographic surveys, primarily in New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The ship was conducting a survey of the reef when the grounding occurred.

New Zealand's Navy has been operating with reduced capacity due to personnel shortages, with three of its nine vessels currently idle.

The loss of the Manawanui further exacerbates the strain on the Navy's capabilities. The ship was a key asset in New Zealand's regional maritime operations.

The incident raises concerns about potential environmental damage, particularly as the vessel went down near the sensitive reef ecosystem of Samoa.

The New Zealand Defence Force and local authorities are assessing the situation to minimize any long-term effects. The investigation into the cause of the grounding is ongoing, and officials hope to learn lessons from the event to prevent future incidents.

Despite the loss of the vessel, the swift rescue of all personnel aboard is being hailed as a successful outcome under difficult circumstances.

A plane is set to depart from New Zealand to bring the rescued crew back home.

The Manawanui was a crucial component of New Zealand's maritime operations in the Pacific, and its loss will likely prompt a review of the nation's naval assets and operations in the region.