THE NEW ZEALAND Defence Force has yet to finalise the contract for the removal of fuel from the sunken HMNZS Manawanui, five weeks after its sinking after striking a reef off the Samoan island of Uplou.
In an update issued yesterday [12 November] the NZDF said an updated methodology for the removal of fuel from the hydrographic vessel is being shared with Samoan authorities for their endorsement, following a familiarisation and site visit to Samoa by the salvors, as well as detailed discussions with authorities in Samoa and NZ.
On return to NZ the [unnamed] salvors worked alongside local agencies, including Maritime New Zealand and NZDF to assess the information gathered and feed this into the updated fuel removal methodology, the update said.
HMNZS Manawanui was surveying the very reef it struck on the night of 6 October, before sinking the following morning after it caught fire. All 75 people on board were safely rescued.
NZDF’s senior national representative Commodore Andrew Brown has now returned to Samoa after a short visit to NZ to progress strategic issues and challenges related to Operation Resolution: “All of those involved in Op Resolution remain focused on minimising environmental impacts, continuing to monitor the vessel and site, and doing a careful and thorough job, as we work towards fuel removal,” he said.
It is expected the recovery of some 950 tonnes of fuel will be undertaken by a team utilising Heron Constructions’ tug Kurutai and barge Cronus, which are undertaking preparatory work in the NZ port of Whangarei and are expected in Apia, Samoa towards the end of this month. There is urgency attached to the task given the approaching South Pacific cyclone season.
Radio New Zealand Pacific News reported a salvage plan was presented on 31 October and is awaiting approval by Samoa’s Marine Pollution Advisory Committee. Commodore Brown said NZDF’s “absolute priority” remains the monitoring and surveillance of the vessel and surrounding coastlines, minimising any potential environmental impacts.
Nick Ling, from the University of Waikato’s School of Science, told RNZ any decision about removing the wreck itself was a “very complex decision process”, given the potential cost, difficulties in removal considering proximity to the reef in a relatively exposed location; and the wishes of local people and the Samoan Government.
Removing the wreck entirely would be extremely challenging given the lack of infrastructure to deal with the salvaged wreck in Samoa or anywhere nearby, and there was potential for the vessel to be left there as a dive site.
