Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Government and environmental agencies in Samoa are on alert after a New Zealand Navy ship caught fire and sank off the south coast of Upolu.

The HMNZS Manawanui — a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel — was conducting a reef survey when it hit the reef on Saturday night.

Seventy-five crew and passengers were taken off the vessel by liferafts and other boats which came to the rescue.

Samoa fire commissioner Tanuvasa Petone said the ship caught fire and sank on Sunday morning after a successful rescue. Three on board needed hospital treatment, he said.

"They're all on land. They are safe and sound apart from just a few individuals that… have some minor injuries, and so we treated them at the site and transferred to them to the hospital."

Petone said the conditions were "quite rough and windy".

'IT BEWILDERS ME AS TO WHY IT WAS THERE'

A Samoan local who saw the HMNZS Manawanui sailing dangerously close to the reef as it ran aground, said he wondered why it was so close in the first place.

"He crashed on a bommie. A bommie is a piece of reef that is a lot deeper than all the other reefs, so the waves won't break unless there's a really big swell. We just had a really big swell, and there would have been residual sets," he said.

"He must have cruised over that reef thought nothing was coming, and then all of a sudden something came. Bang. I just don't understand what he was doing there.

"It bewilders me as to why he was there. I know it's a scientific research boat but he shouldn't have been that close to the reef. There's no reason to be that close to the reef, not with the amount of swells that was around."

He was worried about the environmental impacts of the ship hitting the reef, and hoped there was no oil spilling out of it.

"The reef was already getting destroyed from other things but I just hope the ship hasn't done anything," Manu added.

COURT OF INQUIRY PROMISED

From the Devonport Naval Base, Defense Minister Judith Collins said it was "a very sad day for the Navy."

She said there will be a Court of Inquiry to establish exactly what had happened, but the reason for the grounding was unknown, and it was too early to speculate.

Her immediate focus was on mitigating environmental impacts and salvaging what was left of the HMNZS Manawanui if possible, she added.

Collins said the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had been briefed on the situation.

Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding said two people had been hospitalized, one with a dislocated shoulder, and another who had hurt their back. A further 12-15 had minor cuts and abrasions, and sore body parts.

Labor's Defense spokesperson Peeni Henare said it was a devastating event, and his thoughts were with the crew onboard the HMNZS Manawanui.

"I'm relieved to hear they're all safe and out of harm's way," he said.

"I certainly want to recognize the incredible efforts of those who helped coordinate and rescue our New Zealand crew.

"I'm confident New Zealand and fellow partners will be working around the clock to respond appropriately and support Samoa during this tough time."

Residents on the south coast of Upolu are fearing potential oil or chemical spillage from HMNZS Manawanui could be disastarous for the local environment and businesses.

Manager at Coconuts Beach Club at Maninoa, Brian Rose, says they are concerned about the potential impacts of the disaster on their lagoon, which has a sizeable turtle population - a major tourist attraction.

"So far it looks like the impact directly on our shores has been minimal, but we know that with tides and currents things change and so we're going to keep an eye out to make sure if there's any problems that we know about them and prevent our guests from getting in the water if it's going to be unsafe, he said.

"We have a large population of sea turtles that swim around our lagoon and people enjoy that I'm hoping that nothing happens to them.

Rose said the vessel first ran aground on a reef not far from their location, then drifted west to where it finally sank.

Local Manu Percival told Morning Report the mess would have a huge effect on tourism, along with on local communities as the area was used for food and surfing, and is a home for marine life like sea turtles.

BACKGROUND

HMNZS Manawanui, the navy's specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, regularly conducts tasks across the Pacific.

In 2018, the government said the ship would cost $103 million to buy and convert. It was completed in 2019.

Marinetraffic.com's ship tracker earlier showed the vessel was 'aground' near the village of Siumu, on the southern side of Upolu, at 10.45pm Saturday.

Maritime component commander Commodore Shane Arndell said the grounding occurred while conducting a reef survey.

The 75 crew and passengers were at first evacuated onto life rafts, before being taken ashore by rescuers.

"They are being supported in Samoa or on supporting vessels," Arndell said.

"The New Zealand Defence Force worked closely with Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) which coordinated rescue efforts. Several vessels responded and assisted in rescuing crew and passengers. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was also deployed."

Photographs uploaded by the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority showed crew being carried into ambulances and life rafts being hauled ashore. People appeared generally to be in good spirits. HMNZS Manawanui departed Auckland's Devonport naval base for the Pacific on 29 September.

According to the Defence Force website, the ship has a core crew of 39. It has been in service since November 2019 and has a top speed of 14 knots (26km/h).

In November 2023, it was used in a seven-week operation to conduct underwater surveys and help to dispose of submerged World War II bombs in Niue, Fiji and Vanuatu.

"Some of our crew hail from Pacific nations and so for them our deployments to the Pacific are a way for them to give something back to their communities," Commanding Officer Yvonne Gray said at the time.

Samoa’s Acting Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponafio released the following timeline of the incident surrounding the New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui which ran aground on the South West Coast of Upolu Island at 1:00am Sunday October 6, 2024:

“At 6.58pm Saturday evening 5 October 2024, Samoa Police, Prisons and Correction Services (‘SPPCS’) received a call from the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington New Zealand regarding a distress vessel which is now confirmed to be New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui run aground on the South West Coast of Upolu Island.

“SPPCS Maritime Wing on duty team were alerted and dispatched small boats to the Southern Side of Upolu as the Nafanua III crew were recalled to assist with the rescue operation. Samoa Fire and Emergency Service Authority (‘SFESA’) was also alerted and responded alongside Police Maritime Teams. The Disaster Management Office were also alerted and were on standby to assist when needed.

“At 7.19pm another call was received from Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand that the crew of the distress vessel will be abandoning the ship unto life rafts due to the deteriorating situation with HMNZS Manawanui taking in too much water and was sinking. At the same time first responders from both SPPCS and SFESA were deployed to rescue the HMNZS Manawanui crew.

“At 9.00pm the Nafanua III departed Matautu-wharf to assist with the rescue operation.

“At 5.00am Sunday morning 6 October 2024, SPPCS Commander who led the rescue coordination informed HQ that all 75 members of the crew were rescued with some receiving only minor medical assistance with no casualties.

“Nafanua III rescued 18 crew, 11 were rescued by LadbrogCable Vessel, 10 rescued by Ark Marine Company Ltd Vessel and 36 were rescued by SPPCS with assistance of SFESA small boats. All 75 crew members were transported to the New Zealand High Commission residence for welfare purposes.

“The HMNZS Manawanui is not recoverable and has sunk into the ocean. The possibility of an oil spill is high probable. NEOC led by MNRE is now conducting an environmental impact assessment on the marine ecosystem and surrounding areas.

“Earlier today I visited the crew to give moral support and assured them of their comfort and any other assistance the Samoa Government can provide.

“I also spoke with the Rt Hon Prime Minister of NZ, Mr. Luxon, who expressed gratitude to Samoa for its efforts to rescue the crew, especially in difficult conditions and during darkness. Prime Minister Luxon has also offered to provide assistance as required to assist the Samoan government.

“I would also like to commend our Commissioner of Police and Commissioner of Fire, Emergency, and Rescue Services for their great efforts to rescue the crew of Manawanui. A word must also go out to the ship’s commander for her call to abandon ship and to the crew for their courage and bravery during this difficult situation”

(Sources: RNZ Pacific and Samoa Government)