[GCaptain] In a dramatic turn of events, HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s newly upgraded hydrographic salvage and support ship, ran aground last night during a reef survey off the southern coast of Samoa. The vessel subsequently caught fire and sank, marking the first peacetime loss of a Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ship. While no injuries were reported, the incident resulted in an oil spill.
Videos and photos published by local media showed the Manawanui listing heavily and on fire with plumes of thick grey smoke rising after it ran aground. By 9 a.m. local time, the vessel had capsized and was “now submerged” after sinking beneath the surface, according to Reuters.
The New Zealand Defence Force stated that the cause of the grounding is currently unknown and will require further investigation. The ship was on its third deployment to the South West Pacific this year, with scheduled activities in the Kermadec Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, and Niue. It was due to return home on November 1st. The crew included seven civilian scientists and four foreigners.
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening, leading to a complex nighttime evacuation of all 75 crew members and passengers in challenging weather conditions. While New Zealand officials are praising the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Yvonne Gray, for her swift action, some question whether more could have been done to save one of only five fully operational ships in the underfunded and overworked RNZN fleet. 
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