The HMNZS Manawanui, a vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy, tragically ran aground and ultimately sank off the coast of Samoa due to human error, as revealed in an interim report. The incident occurred on October 5 while the ship was conducting survey operations, specifically on the southern side of Samoa.
Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, initiated a Court of Inquiry following the incident, which has concluded that the grounding was primarily caused by a failure to disengage the ship’s autopilot at the appropriate time. The crew mistakenly believed the ship’s inability to respond to directional changes was due to a malfunction with the thruster control, instead of recognizing that the autopilot remained engaged.
According to Golding, “standard procedures” should have ensured that the crew verified the ship’s manual control status. Regrettably, this check was overlooked, leading the ship to maintain an unsafe course toward land until it struck the reef and ultimately became stranded. The full scope of the inquiry is still ongoing, with a comprehensive report expected in early 2025.
In light of this incident, the Defence Force has already begun conducting audits within the fleet to identify and implement necessary training and risk management improvements. Golding expressed gratitude for the support received from the Transport Accident Investigation Committee, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the inquiry.
Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed her disappointment regarding the findings. However, she acknowledged the Navy’s transparency in owning the situation, emphasizing the importance of learning from these mistakes. She noted the fortunate outcome that no lives were lost during the disaster.
The review will lead to a disciplinary process for three personnel involved in the incident, focusing on the human errors that occurred during the operational phase of the mission. Collins commended the cooperation with Samoan authorities, reinforcing the strong bond between the two nations and ensuring continued collaboration.
Salvage operations for the ship, which is insured for recovery but not replacement, are expected to commence mid-December, before the cyclone season.
It is hoped that this incident will serve as a profound learning experience for the Navy, ultimately leading to better safety protocols and training measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The commitment shown by Navy officials to rectify these errors and improve maritime safety is a positive step toward restoring public trust.
This unfortunate event serves as a reminder of the complexities and risks associated with naval operations, but also highlights the proactive approach taken by the Defence Force to learn from the past and implement corrective measures moving forward.
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