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".
The HMNZS Manawanui, aground in Samoa. Photo: Supplied / Profile Boats
'It bewilders me as to why he was there'
Manu, 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.
Defence Minister Judith Collins and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding speaking to media from the Devonport Naval Base. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
Collins promises Court of Inquiry
From the Devonport Naval Base, Defence Minister Judith Collins said it was "a very sad day for the Navy".
My thoughts this morning are with the officers, crew, and passengers on the HMNZS Manawanui. Many thanks to the Samoan people for their brave assistance.
— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) October 5, 2024
Our families will be shocked at what happened, but grateful for the successful rescue.
I will be joined by Chief of Navy for a…
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 environment 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 hospitalised, 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.
Labour's Defence 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 recognise 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."
The Defence Force will reveal more information on Sunday afternoon.
Ship is a research vessel
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.
Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff rescue crew of the HMNZS Manawanui after it ran aground in Samoa. Photo: Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority
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."
The HMNZS Manawanui, aground in Samoa. Photo: Profile Boats / supplied
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.
Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority staff rescue crew of the HMNZS Manawanui after it ran aground in Samoa. Photo: Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority
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.
