New Zealand Navy Assessing Environmental Impact from ‘Manawanui’ Sinking

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is conducting an extensive environmental assessment after its specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, ran aground, caught fire, and sank off the coast of Samoa over the weekend.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening, October 5, 2024, during a hydrographic survey near Upolu, Samoa. All 75 crew members and passengers were safely evacuated.

“The dive team has begun assessing the area where HMNZS Manawanui sank to better understand the environmental impacts and clean-up efforts required in Samoa,” said Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell.

The sunken vessel lies approximately 30 meters deep in an area now declared a “prohibited zone” by Samoan officials. A light oil sheen from the ship’s initial capsizing is being dispersed by wind and waves.

Multiple agencies are involved in the response effort. The New Zealand Defence Force has deployed 28 personnel to Samoa, working alongside experts from Maritime New Zealand and wildlife specialists from Massey University. Equipment sent to the site includes remotely operated vehicles and spill response gear.

“As more information is gathered from the responders on the ground, NZDF will bring further equipment from New Zealand to support the response,” added Commodore Arndell.

This incident marks a significant loss for the Royal New Zealand Navy, which operates just nine ships. The HMNZS Manawanui, built in 2003 and acquired by New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence in 2018, had been in service since 2019.

The cause of the grounding remains under investigation.

Commanding Officer Commander Yvonne Gray praised her crew’s response: “My team acted with commitment, with comradeship and, above all, with courage.”

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