Samoa Sinking Costs New Zealand Millions

Reef of Ruin: The Sinking of HMNZS Manawanui and Its Costly Aftermath

A cascade of mistakes by personnel led to the grounding and eventual sinking of a prized naval craft from New Zealand inside Samoan maritime territory, triggering a complex environmental response and a NZ$6 million diplomatic settlement. The loss of HMNZS Manawanui on 5 October 2024 marked the Royal New Zealand Navy's first such peacetime disaster since the Second World War. A comprehensive Court of Inquiry later revealed a startling sequence of failures aboard the specialist hydrographic ship. The incident not only damaged a fragile coral reef but also strained a long-standing friendship between the two Pacific nations. Now, one year on, questions about long-term accountability, environmental recovery, and naval capability remain.

A Mission Derailed

The HMNZS Manawanui was operating off the southern coast of Samoa’s Upolu island, tasked with a vital mission. The dive and hydrographic vessel was conducting a seabed survey of a reef which had gone unmapped for decades. This work was part of preparations for a major Commonwealth heads of government meeting scheduled to take place in Samoa. The ship, a former Norwegian oil and gas survey vessel named MV Edda Fonn, was acquired by New Zealand in 2018 for NZ$103 million and commissioned in 2019. It represented a modern and crucial asset in the small nine-ship naval fleet.

The Fatal Turn

On the evening of 5 October 2024, the Manawanui's crew attempted a routine turn while charting the reef. The conditions were challenging, with strong winds and a moderate swell. At approximately 6:15 pm, as the ship maneuvered, the bridge team did not deactivate the vessel's autopilot system. Believing they had manual control, the crew became confused when the ship did not respond to their commands and continued on a direct course towards the reef. This critical mistake was the primary reason for the disaster.

Grounding on the Reef

The ship, travelling at speed, motored directly onto the coral formation. The grounding was forceful, with the vessel continuing for hundreds of metres after the initial impact. An immediate check for damage and flooding commenced as the crew declared a nautical emergency. It took a full ten minutes for the bridge team to realise their error and finally switch control from automatic to manual, by which point the ship was firmly stranded. Unsuccessful attempts were made to manoeuvre the specialist vessel off the coral. The situation on board was becoming increasingly perilous.

A Perilous Evacuation

With stability assessments showing the ship was no longer safe, Commander Yvonne Gray, the vessel's captain, gave the order to abandon ship roughly 30 minutes after the grounding. Every one of the seventy-five individuals on board, including crew, scientists, and personnel from foreign militaries, began a hazardous evacuation at night into rough seas. They used life rafts and the ship’s rigid hull inflatable boats to escape the listing vessel. The Chief of Navy later praised the commander's timely decision, stating it undoubtedly saved lives during a complex and dangerous operation.

Lost to the Flames

Following the successful rescue of all personnel, the situation with the abandoned HMNZS Manawanui deteriorated rapidly. A sequence of catastrophic fires broke out on the vessel, believed to have been started by shorting electrical equipment as water ingress worsened. Billowing smoke was seen rising from the stranded ship. Overwhelmed by fire and flooding from the hull damage, the ship eventually capsized and disappeared beneath the waves on the morning of 6 October, sinking into the sea. The vessel now rests on the seabed in approximately 30 metres of water.

An Ecological Emergency

The sinking immediately sparked grave environmental concerns. The Manawanui was carrying a significant amount of oil, diesel, and additional contaminants. In the days that followed, a light oil sheen was visible on the ocean surface, stretching out to sea from the wreck site. Residents along the Upolu shoreline reported a strong smell of oil, and concerns mounted for the local marine ecosystem, which is home to a large population of marine turtles and vibrant coral. The grounding and sinking damaged an estimated 5,000 square metres of the reef.

Impact on Local Communities

The environmental damage had a direct and severe impact on the nearby populace in the Safata district. For six months, villagers were unable to fish in their traditional grounds due to restrictions and contamination fears, disrupting a key source of food and income. The oil spill threatened not just the marine life but also the tourism operators who depend on the pristine lagoons and their famous turtle populations to attract visitors. The incident was felt as a deep blow to the cultural and socio-economic life of the people on Upolu's south coast.

Diplomatic Response and Compensation

The administration in New Zealand acted swiftly to address the diplomatic and financial fallout. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon formally apologised to his Samoan counterpart for the incident. Following a formal request from the Samoan government, New Zealand provided a payment of 10 million Samoan Tala, equivalent to approximately NZ$6 million. Winston Peters, the Foreign Minister, stated the payment was made in good faith, acknowledging the significant effect the sinking had on the nearby populace and the disturbance it created.

The Cleanup Operation

Dubbed 'Operation Resolution', the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) launched a major salvage and cleanup effort in collaboration with Samoan authorities. The immediate priority was to mitigate the environmental damage. Specialist divers and salvage teams were deployed to the site, which was declared a prohibited zone. Over subsequent months, they successfully removed oil, diesel fuel, and additional contaminants from the sunken wreck. Weapons, ammunition, and several dislodged shipping containers were also recovered from the area.

Image Credit by New Zealand Defence Force from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Future of the Wreck

The hulk of the HMNZS Manawanui remains on the Samoan reef. New Zealand and Samoan authorities continue to work together on the long-term future of the vessel. An independent wreck assessment and further environmental studies are underway to inform the final decision. Options being considered include a complex and expensive full removal or potentially securing the wreck to become a dive attraction, though the latter would require significant safety modifications. The wreck's final fate remains undecided.

The Court of Inquiry

A formal Court of Inquiry, headed by Commodore Melissa Ross, was established to investigate the sinking. The inquiry panel included senior officers from the New Zealand and Australian navies. The investigation was extensive, examining every aspect of the incident from the ship's material state to the actions of the crew and wider organisational factors. The court heard evidence from those on board, acknowledging the difficult and stressful experience they endured while praising their courage and integrity throughout the process.

A Cascade of Failures

The final report, released in April 2025, confirmed the direct cause was a sequence of personnel mistakes. Beyond the inability to deactivate the autopilot, the inquiry identified twelve contributing factors that made the disaster more likely. These included significant deficiencies in the training and qualifications of key personnel on the bridge. The report found that risks for the survey mission were not sufficiently identified or mitigated, and that leadership and supervision were below expected levels.

Systemic Issues Revealed

The inquiry highlighted broader systemic problems within the Royal New Zealand Navy. A culture that prioritised mission accomplishment over safety was cited as a key issue. The report also pointed to problems of haste, distraction, and "hollowness"—a term used to describe a lack of depth in capability or resource. Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding acknowledged the need for fundamental change, noting that a lack of commonality across the fleet required personnel to constantly adapt to new procedures when changing ships, increasing operational risk.

Accountability and Consequences

Following the damning report, the Chief of Navy confirmed that a separate disciplinary investigation would commence. This process, which could lead to formal charges or other actions against individuals found responsible, is reportedly in its closing stages, though no final determination has been announced. The inquiry's findings and nine recommendations are intended to drive significant reforms in risk management, training, and operational procedures to prevent a similar disaster from happening again.

A Commander Targeted

In the immediate aftermath of the sinking, the ship’s female commanding officer, Commander Yvonne Gray, became the target of vicious and misogynistic online abuse. Social media commenters and so-called "armchair admirals" baselessly asserted that her gender was the reason for the mishap. The trolling became so severe that it prompted a strong public rebuke from New Zealand's then-Defence Minister, Judith Collins, who condemned the narrative as vile and deeply concerning. She revealed that other women in uniform had even faced abuse in the street.

A Historic Naval Loss

The sinking of the Manawanui was a significant blow to the New Zealand Defence Force. It marked the initial unintentional loss of a naval vessel since the Second World War and the very first during peacetime. The ship belonged to a small fleet of just nine vessels, and its loss has created a capability gap. The 2025 budget papers recorded a NZ 77 million write-off for the vessel, with an additional NZ 32 million allocated for the extensive cleanup and salvage operations.

Capability Gap and Fleet Future

The government has confirmed the HMNZS Manawanui will not be replaced directly. Defence officials have stated that another vessel, the HMNZS Otago, will be tasked with picking up much of the lost ship's work, although it does not possess the same specialist diving and hydrographic capabilities. The loss of the Manawanui has reduced the NZDF's warfare support readiness in coastal zones from a target of 98% down to 85%. This reduction underscores the strategic impact of losing such a specialised platform on the Navy's operational capacity.

Mending a Friendship

The incident tested the historically close relationship between New Zealand and Samoa, which is founded on a Treaty of Friendship signed in 1962. New Zealand administered Samoa for several decades before its independence and maintains a role in patrolling its waters. Both governments have emphasised their commitment to working collaboratively through the aftermath. The prompt apology, transparent communication, financial settlement, and joint management of the environmental response have been crucial in navigating the diplomatic sensitivities and reinforcing the strong bilateral ties between the nations.