New Zealand navy ship sank off Somoan coast due to crew errors: Probe

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: A New Zealand navy ship, HMNZS Manawanui, ran aground and sank off the coast of Samoa in October due to crew errors, according to preliminary findings from a military Court of Inquiry.

The crew failed to realize the ship's autopilot was still engaged, mistakenly attributing its lack of response to a thruster control failure. The inquiry found that they also neglected to confirm whether the ship was under manual control as it continued toward the reef near Upolu, Samoa.

All 75 people aboard evacuated safely before the ship caught fire and sank about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from shore. It marked the first loss of a New Zealand navy ship at sea since World War II.

Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of the Navy, explained, "The direct cause of the grounding has been determined as a series of human errors which meant the ship's autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been. Muscle memory from the person in control should have leaned over to that panel and checked whether the screen said autopilot or not."

Golding also cited broader issues, including gaps in training, supervision, risk assessment, and readiness. Three crew members present on the bridge during the incident-the officer in control, their supervisor, and the ship's commanding officer-are expected to face disciplinary proceedings. Their names have not been disclosed.

"I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation, and it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust," Golding stated.

The incident has sparked environmental concerns in nearby Samoan villages due to diesel leaking from the wreck. However, New Zealand officials reported that most of the fuel burned in the fire, and no major environmental damage has been recorded. Divers are monitoring a slow fuel leak, with specialist equipment en route from New Zealand to remove pollutants.

The Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel commissioned in 2019, was surveying the reef when the incident occurred. No plans have been announced to remove the ship from the reef. Golding acknowledged the reputational damage caused by the disaster, stating, "We will own it, fix it, and learn from it."