The HMNZS *Manawanui* has become a focal point of inquiry after an interim report attributed its grounding and subsequent sinking off the coast of Samoa on October 5 to human error. The Royal New Zealand Navy ship was conducting survey operations when it struck a reef, leading to this incident.
According to Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, a series of human mistakes led to the ship’s autopilot remaining engaged when it should have been manually controlled. The crew mistakenly attributed the vessel’s unresponsiveness to a thruster malfunction rather than recognizing it was still on autopilot, which should have triggered standard checks to ensure manual control.
In the wake of this incident, Admiral Golding set up a Court of Inquiry, which is expected to be completed by early next year. He noted that an independent audit of the Navy’s operations has already begun, focusing on training and risk management to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed her disappointment regarding the findings but acknowledged the Navy’s transparency in confronting the incident. She emphasized that it was fortunate there were no fatalities, highlighting that nobody intends for such accidents to occur. Collins also noted the New Zealand Defence Force’s ongoing commitment to collaboration with Samoan authorities in response to the situation.
As salvage operations are set to begin mid-December, Golding confirmed that strategic planning is in process to complete these efforts before the cyclone season. Although the ship, worth approximately $100 million, is insured for salvage, it is not covered for replacement.
In terms of a timeline, the report details the sequence of events leading to the grounding, including the crew’s attempts to perform necessary maneuvers, which ultimately failed due to autopilot engagement. After the crew abandoned the ship, it suffered catastrophic fires before sinking.
The Navy is taking the necessary steps to address this unfortunate incident, with a focus on learning and improving procedures going forward. There is hope that through stringent training and inquiry outcomes, similar mishaps can be avoided in the future while reinforcing trust between the Navy and the public.
The gravity of this incident demonstrates the complexities of naval operations but underscores the Navy’s commitment to safety and accountability. Through the lessons learned, there is potential for the organization to emerge stronger, fostering greater confidence among its personnel and the communities it serves.
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