THE NEW ZEALAND Defence Force’s Operation Resolution has completed the first cycle to remove fuel and other pollutants from the sunken HMNZS Manawanui off Samoa, with recovered fuel being offloaded at the Port of Apia.

At the end of last week the barge Cronus returned to the southwest of Upolu to position back above Manawanui where divers will prepare to hit the water to commence the second cycle of fuel removal, according the latest bulletin from the NZDF, released on Friday [17 January].

Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution, Commodore Andrew Brown said, “It’s very pleasing to see that the recovery of fuel and other pollutants from Manawanui has progressed despite the impact of adverse weather conditions.

“The weather, particularly at this time of year, has and will influence the fuel and other pollutants removal process,” Commodore Brown said. 

“This week the salvors were able to move the barge into the Port of Apia to offload tanktainers holding recovered fuel and other pollutants. Empty tanktainers were loaded on the barge before it was towed back above Manawanui in preparation for the next cycle of fuel removal.”

Cronus is expected to make a number of visits back to Apia to offload tanktainers between now and the end of the fuel removal phase.

Commodore Brown said while the barge is away, the 2km safety buffer zone around the site remains in place to protect the anchors and buoys, and to ensure the safety of people who might be on the water in the area.

“Offloaded tanktainers are being securely stored at the port before the fuel and other pollutants are transferred for processing and storage, while disposal processes are worked through.”

NZDF personnel in Samoa continue to support the salvors with monitoring the worksite above Manawanui and surrounding area, and are standing by to provide further support as required.

“During the complex and technical phase of fuel removal, the salvors have been continually advancing progress to further safely access more technically challenging aspects of the operation in order to extract more fuel and other pollutants,” Commodore Brown said.

“It had been pleasing to see before Christmas, due to results of recent water testing, the Samoan Government reduce significantly the precautionary zone in which the fishing warning applied along the south coast of Upolu, widening the area greatly for fishing activities.

“The NZDF continues to support the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa’s sampling and monitoring plan, and we anticipate that latest results will drive a further reduction of the precautionary zone,” Commodore Brown said.

HMNZS Manawanui sank on the morning of 6 October 2024 after striking the reef it was surveying. Preliminary inquiry findings included a failure to disengage the vessel’s autopilot.