The HMNZS Manawanui, a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, tragically grounded and sank off the southern coast of Samoa due to a series of human errors, as revealed in an interim report. The incident occurred on October 5 while the ship was engaged in survey operations.
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding confirmed that the grounding resulted from the ship’s autopilot remaining engaged when it should have been turned off. The crew, unaware of this autopilot status, mistakenly attributed the ship’s lack of responsiveness to a thruster control issue.
Golding emphasized that proper standard procedures should have enabled the crew to verify whether the vessel was operating under manual control. Unfortunately, this check did not take place, leading the ship to continue heading toward land until it ran aground.
An extensive Court of Inquiry, initiated by Golding, is currently under way to determine the full extent of what transpired and to establish necessary improvements. The final report is expected to be released in March 2025.
In light of the incident, immediate audits within the Fleet have begun, focusing on training, risk management practices, and updating relevant procedures based on lessons learned from the interim report. Golding acknowledged the invaluable support from the Transport Accident Investigation Committee (TAIC), the Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force throughout the inquiry process.
Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed her disappointment regarding the findings but praised the Navy for taking accountability and committing to rectify the issues. She highlighted the fortunate outcome that no lives were lost during the incident, emphasizing the importance of addressing safety protocols to prevent future occurrences.
The ship’s salvage operations are set to begin around December 16, weather permitting, and are expected to be completed before the cyclone season. Although insured for salvage purposes, the vessel’s estimated value of $100 million can only cover recovery efforts, not replacement.
The timeline provided by the Defence Force outlines the events leading up to the grounding, showcasing the critical moments and the crew’s response. Although the incident was indeed unfortunate, the proactive measures being taken to learn from this episode promise a future commitment to safety and operational excellence.
In summary, while the grounding of the HMNZS Manawanui is a significant setback for the Royal New Zealand Navy, the commitment to thorough investigation and improvement presents a positive avenue for ensuring such incidents are avoided in the future. There is hope that these lessons learned will bolster operational safety and restore public confidence over time.
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