Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of Upolu, Samoa, this morning.
The ship ran aground on a reef in the evening hours and caught fire soon after, prompting a swift and challenging evacuation led by Commander Gray. All 75 crew members and passengers aboard, including civilians and foreign personnel, were rescued thanks to the combined efforts of the ship’s crew and Samoa’s Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
@NewstalkZB @1NewsNZ we have video if you want some. Sad day
— Dave Poole (@pooliecoast) October 5, 2024
The ship’s troubles began at around 6:46 PM when it ran aground. Despite efforts to dislodge the vessel, it started listing, and by 7:52 PM, Commander Gray made the critical decision to evacuate. In heavy seas and winds, the crew and passengers boarded lifeboats to escape the perilous situation. Most of them were safely transferred to nearby rescue vessels, though one lifeboat capsized, forcing the occupants to wade ashore.
Commander Gray’s leadership during the evacuation was widely praised by Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, who credited Gray with saving lives through quick decision-making in a high-pressure situation. Although the evacuation was conducted without loss of life, two individuals were treated at a local hospital for injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and back issues. The remaining passengers sustained minor cuts and abrasions.
The incident has left a significant impact on the New Zealand Navy, with Defence Minister Judith Collins reportedly holding back tears during a press conference, describing the day as tragic but acknowledging the bravery and professionalism of the crew. Due to the extent of the damage, the likelihood of salvaging the HMNZS Manawanui remains slim, and efforts are underway to assess the environmental impact of the sinking.
The History of HMNZS Manawanui
HMNZS Manawanui was originally launched as a multi-role diving and salvage vessel, with its primary purpose being underwater operations, salvage missions, and diving support.
The ship was commissioned in 2019 to replace the older Manawanui, a longstanding name in the Navy. This vessel’s versatility allowed it to undertake complex missions involving underwater surveys, mine clearance, and rescue operations.
Its unique capabilities allowed it to assist in both military and civilian roles, making it an indispensable asset to New Zealand’s Navy.
Ouch, looks like all are safe but pollution worries will be a major concern now.
Not running around so much now. 😉
Sad day for all concerned.
Winker.
It’s good that everyone’s safe but that’s one ship less in an already very small navy. Is there any progress on possible A140/T31s for NZ?
Given their frigates have had a fairly recent midlife refit program I would be surprised if that is a priority for them.
Given the build times for anything ATM given the purchasing by so many navies they actually need to get a move on to avoid a T23esqu outcome.
A very sobering event. Mind you RN nearly managed the same with a T42…stuff happens at sea either through over reliance on instruments or inexperience over confidence. All dangerous and a very toxic mix together.
As usually NZ.expects Australia to defend it.
It’s more they are so remote and don’t have huge natural resources that they don’t spend a lot on defence.
Their % of budget spent on defence is the issue.
NZ’s GDP isn’t that small and 2% is ca $8Bn which buys quite a bit if you do t have a high end airforce or anything nuclear and a small but very good army with well respected SF.
Mate, there is little appetite for defence investment here. That being said, the RNZAF received 4 P8 Poseidon’s and is onboarding 5 new C10J.
It’s a personal view, but I weld like to see us increasing to 2% of gdp on defence.
As usual Australia expects the US to defend it ?
Sad news, although no-life-lost is good.
So did the fire start because she ran aground or did she run aground because of the fire? A survey ship from a modern navy in peace time conditions in an area known for reefs (the locals ran a new 40m patrol boat aground a year or two ago), should have been all over it. However a fire in the wrong place & time could have affected sonar, propulsion or steering with insufficient time to avoid disaster.
I gather the RNZN is very under resourced and gets very little sea time. Quite possibly an experience issue
Levi that does appear so for Most of the NZ navy but reading local press, Manawanui so multiroled she’s in contrast and quite busy.
In terms of replacement Damen actually have a 91m dive support vessel with bow helipad for sale at the moment. So they could pull the fastest bit of procurement in history if they wanted to.
The defence minister stated it lost power before running aground.
Well that’s good news for the crew at least. So likely the fire is linked to or the cause of the power loss.
Ran aground in its own country???? Bad seamanship
At least every one is save .Oddly enough I was only reading about this vessel in War Ship Magazine a few months back it’s a very big loss to the NZN .
Nice looking ship, a sort of mini RFA Proteus.
Tough luck for the crew and likely to hugely diminish the NZ navy.
Oh Dear.
The officer who had the watch, has a lot to answer for.
”The incident has left a significant impact on the New Zealand Navy”
At least get the name right – RNZN.
Seems she might have been doing security sweeps for the upcoming Commonwealth meeting, some reports that she lost power before running aground.
The New Zealand Navy is a joke. It cannot deploy four of its nine ships because of a lack of personnel. It’s proposed Defense Budget for 2025 is 6.6% less than the previous insufficient budget. New Zealand also prohibits US and UK nuclear powered attack submarines from visiting its ports. Just why the US tolerates its continued inclusion in the Five Eyes program is a mystery.
Remind me how many ships the RN/RFA have had issues with manning? Australia and Canada and even the US have had manning issues as well, not a unique issue for the RNZN.
Royal New Zealand Navy
Defence
Location, location, location and something else!
Good news is they’ve got 75 crew now without a ship they can use
I would suggest because of the slice of the world it covers as part of 5 Eyes.
I wonder if the skipper will stay highly commended when they inquiry looks into the reason for the sinking ?
Seems it was a power loss as they were surveying the reef.
Should be ok, then. Thanks for the update.
The NewZealand defence minister stated that the ship lost power before running aground, and that apparently at the time it was running a survey of the reef and was just off the reef, within a mile of shore..sounds like the poor crew were completely up the creek without a paddle as they lost power in a place your not getting out of if you do.
They would say it lost power to save face, embarrasing otherwise
Was it built by bae ‘Pacific Division’?
No but the Bay Class HMAS Choules (previously RFA Largs Bay) was completed by BAE and could easily have suffered a similar fate when two of the ships transformers failed while at sea.
Fortunately at wasn’t a total loss of power and wasn’t near reefs at the time although it was headed north from Sydney for amphibious exercises at Shoalwater Bay at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
Losing power while navigating through the largest system of reefs on the planet could have ended very badly. The Choules transformers were overheating and shorting and it is easy to understand how a fire could have broken out on the RNZN ship.
As a result the failure all of Choules transformers had to be replaced after showing signs of premature ageing resulting in the ship being laid up for almost a year and media criticism,
Crew error. Unbelievable and unacceptable.