Hello and welcome to the details of New Zealand Navy ship sinks off Samoa, all 75 onboard rescued safely, probe into cause of grounding underway and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - A view of a New Zealand Navy vessel on fire, as seen from Tafitoala, Samoa, October 6, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media. — Dave Poole/Pool pic via Reuters
- Manawanui ran aground near Upolu during a reef survey
- Rescue operations involved multiple vessels and a P-8A Poseidon
- Investigation into the cause of grounding is ongoing
WELLINGTON, Oct 6 — A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground and sank off Samoa but all 75 crew and passengers on board were safe, the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement today.
Manawanui, the navy’s specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, ran aground near the southern coast of Upolu last night as it was conducting a reef survey, Commodore Shane Arndell, the maritime component commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, said in a statement.
Several vessels responded and assisted in rescuing the crew and passengers who had left the ship in lifeboats, Arndell said.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist in the rescue.
The cause of the grounding was unknown and would need further investigation, New Zealand Defence Force said.
Video and photos published on local media showed the Manawanui, which cost the New Zealand government NZ$103 million (RM267 million) in 2018, listing heavily and with plumes of thick grey smoke rising after it ran aground.
The vessel later capsized and was below the surface by 9am local time, New Zealand Defence Force said.
The agency said it was “working with authorities to understand the implications and minimise the environmental impacts”.
A handout photo taken on December 1, 2023 and obtained from the New Zealand Defence Force on October 6, 2024 shows the Royal New Zealand Navy ship the HMNZS Manawanui in a bay in the Three Kings Islands. New Zealand said today it had rescued all 75 sailors from a navy vessel that ran aground and sank off Samoa while conducting a reef survey. — New Zealand Defence Force handout pic via AFP
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding told a press conference in Auckland that a plane would leave for Samoa on Sunday to bring the rescued crew and passengers back to New Zealand.
He said some of those rescued had suffered minor injuries, including from walking across a reef.
Defence Minister Judith Collins described the grounding as a “really challenging for everybody on board.”
“I know that what has happened is going to take quite a bit of time to process,” Collins told the press conference.
“I look forward to pinpointing the cause so that we can learn from it and avoid a repeat,” she said, adding that an immediate focus was to salvage “what is left” of the vessel.
Rescue operations were coordinated by Samoan emergency services and Australian Defence personnel with the assistance of the New Zealand rescue centre, according to a statement from Samoa Police, Prison and Corrections Service posted on Facebook.
Manawanui is used to conduct a range of specialist diving, salvage and survey tasks around New Zealand and across the South West Pacific.
New Zealand’s Navy is already working at reduced capacity with three of its nine ships idle due to personnel shortages. — Reuters
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