A New Zealand naval ship carrying 75 crew members and passengers caught fire and sank off Samoa, but all on board are safe, the New Zealand Defence Force confirmed on Sunday. The Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui ran aground near the southern coast of Upolu Island in Samoa while conducting a reef survey. Videos circulating on social media show thick plumes of grey smoke rising after the vessel, which cost the New Zealand government over NZ$100m (US$63m), ran aground.
The 5700-tonne, 84m-long ship eventually capsized and submerged around 9 am local time on Sunday, according to a statement from the New Zealand Defence Force. The vessel was primarily used for coastal and harbour surveys, underwater explosive disposal, and underwater search and recovery missions, the defence department stated. Crew members and passengers, which included seven individuals conducting scientific work and four foreign personnel, were successfully rescued by nearby vessels, stated Commodore Shane Arndell of the defence force.
A plane is scheduled to depart for Samoa on Sunday to transport the rescued crew and passengers back to New Zealand. The exact cause of the ship’s grounding is still under investigation. “I look forward to pinpointing the cause so that we can learn from it and avoid a repeat,” NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins commented, describing the incident as “really challenging for everybody on board.” Samoa fire and rescue officials shared their account of the rescue operation on Facebook, expressing pride in having saved all crew members and passengers with no major injuries or casualties.
Photos posted by the firefighters depict navy personnel being brought ashore and a distressed man being evacuated on a stretcher. Another photograph shows a group of approximately a dozen navy officers standing on the Samoa island shore, with palm trees in the backdrop. The Samoa rescuers provided a word of caution on Facebook, urging individuals to be vigilant and mindful of sea areas to ensure safety. It is essential to exercise caution and take necessary measures to stay safe when navigating such waters.