The Royal New Zealand Navy has suffered its first loss of a ship since World War II, as the HMNZS Manawanui sank after running aground off the coast of Samoa.
The incident occurred Saturday night local time, approximately one nautical mile from Upolu Island, while the vessel was conducting a reef survey. Following the grounding, the ship caught fire and subsequently capsized.
All 75 individuals on board, including crew members and passengers, were successfully evacuated to lifeboats and rescued by early Sunday, according to a statement from New Zealand’s Defence Force.
The cause of the grounding remains under investigation, with officials indicating that rough weather conditions may have played a role. Military personnel noted that rescuers faced significant challenges due to strong winds and currents that threatened to push life rafts toward nearby reefs. It was also reported that the area had not been surveyed since 1987.
The crew and passengers, which included seven scientists and four foreign military personnel, are currently being housed in Samoa until arrangements can be made for their return to New Zealand. By 6:40 AM local time on Sunday (18:40 BST on Saturday), the ship was seen heavily listing and emitting smoke.
During a news conference, Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed her sorrow over the incident, referring to it as “a really sad day for the Navy.” She praised the crew’s professionalism, training, and courage that contributed to the successful rescue.
Witness Dave Poole described the alarming scene to the media, noting that he saw the ship without smoke upon entering the bay, but flames and smoke became visible shortly after, leading to the vessel’s sinking.
The HMNZS Manawanui is the first naval ship from New Zealand to be unintentionally sunk since the country engaged in naval operations during World War II, although several ships have been purposely sunk in the interim for various reasons, such as serving as diving wrecks or artificial reefs.
Military officials are now focused on efforts to salvage the vessel while also working to mitigate the environmental impacts of the incident.