Government and environmental agencies in Samoa are on high alert following the fire and sinking of the New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui off the southern coast of Upolu. The specialized dive and hydrographic vessel was conducting a reef survey when it ran aground on Saturday night.
All 75 crew and passengers were successfully evacuated using liferafts and assistance from nearby vessels. Samoa’s fire commissioner, Tanuvasa Petone, confirmed that the ship sank on Sunday morning after catching fire, with three individuals requiring hospitalization for treatment of minor injuries.
Petone noted that the weather conditions were “quite rough and windy” during the incident. A local witness, Manu, expressed confusion about the ship’s proximity to the reef, fearing the environmental repercussions of the grounding and hoping no oil was leaking into the water.
Defence Minister Judith Collins described the situation as “a very sad day for the Navy” and announced plans for a Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the grounding, although the cause remains unknown. Her immediate priority is addressing environmental concerns and salvaging the remaining parts of the HMNZS Manawanui.
Rear Admiral Garin Golding reported that two crew members were hospitalized—one with a dislocated shoulder and the other with a back injury—while around 12 to 15 experienced minor injuries. Labour’s Defence spokesperson Peeni Henare acknowledged the seriousness of the event and expressed relief over the crew’s safety.
The HMNZS Manawanui is a research vessel operated by the New Zealand Navy, having been acquired and converted at a cost of $103 million, with its service starting in 2019. It regularly undertakes tasks across the Pacific. The ship was last reported to be aground near Siumu village as it conducted its survey.
In response to the emergency, the New Zealand Defence Force collaborated with Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre to manage the rescue efforts, aided by several vessels and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Photographs showed crew members being assisted upon arrival ashore, generally appearing to be in good spirits.
The HMNZS Manawanui had recently been involved in operations to conduct underwater surveys and dispose of submerged World War II munitions in the Pacific region.