SOME OF the 75 people on board HMNZS Manawanui were forced to walk ashore via the very reef the vessel struck while surveying, after their rescue boat flipped in dangerous conditions.
It took more than five hours for all aboard to make it to shore after the NZ$147 million diving, salvage and hydrographic ship stranded on the reef around one nautical mile off the southern coast of Upolu in Samoa on Saturday night. The order to abandon ship was given at 1952 hours with the rescue undertaken by the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority, working in conjunction with NZ authorities. Three people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
At 0640 on Sunday morning the ship was seen to be listing heavily and on fire, and by 0900 had capsized and sunk. The RNZN has confirmed that, like all Navy vessels, Manawanui was not insured.
Seventy-two of the 75 passengers and crew were returned to NZ last night on a C-130H Hercules and provided with accommodation, medical checks, psychological support and welfare during debriefing sessions. Three other passengers returned today on a commercial flight.
The NZ Defence Force has established a Court of Inquiry which will investigate all circumstances of the loss, which came during Manawanui’s third to the South West Pacific this year. The ship had departed Auckland on 28 September a series of activities scheduled including in the Kermadec Islands, Samoa, Tokelau and Niue and was due to return home on 1 November. It had recently completed a planned maintenance period.
Samoan locals are now concerned about pollution from the sunken vessel, with reports of a light sheen on the waters and large amounts of floating rubbish. The RNZN said there was 950 tonnes of light diesel oil on board, which should partially evaporate.
