WITH 56 leaders due to assemble in Samoan capital Apia next week for the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting a decision about the possible salvage of the RNZS Manawanui looks some way off.

The NZ$147 million diving, salvage and hydrographic ship was badly damaged on the evening of 5 October after running aground on the very reef it was surveying, around one nautical mile off the southern coast of Upolu. All 75 passengers and crew were safely evacuated to shore before Manawanuii caught fire, slid off the reef and capsized on the morning of the following day into 30 metres of water.

Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa told a media conference yesterday [15 October] while discussions were still underway security and other concerns made it unlikely work would continue during CHOGM, which will also be attended by King Charles.

Fiamē said she understood the leakage of up to 200,000 litres of the 900,000 of light diesel on the ship had now been stopped. The possibility of locals receiving compensation from the NZ Government for environmental damage would depend on “clear evidence” of impacts on livelihood, to be evaluated in due course, she said.

There are about 60 NZ Defence Force personnel and specialists from other agencies and local authorities working at the scene. In an Operation Resolution update issued this afternoon the NZDF said three containers from the ship remain out on the reef. The team has emptied one of the containers and one was already empty.

The task group ashore and Maritime NZ have confirmed that so far no pollution has been found on the shorelines, nor any deceased wildlife, but NZDF continues to conduct daily beach surveys together with local authorities and have not found any evidence of pollution or fuel affecting the shoreline. RNZAF uncrewed aerial vehicles have been assisting with shoreline surveys.

Diving continues with a focus on damage assessment and obtaining imagery to aid in the investigation and containment, and an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon and crew have conducted several surveillance flights to provide imagery and assessments of the site.

“Tomorrow HMNZS Canterbury will arrive in Apia harbour to support the Government of Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The ship is also transporting equipment that can assist in our ongoing response,” NZDF said.

An official Court of Inquiry into the loss was established by the NZDF last Friday [10 October].