Dozens of crew members of a New Zealand naval ship had to be taken to safety by Australian and Samoan rescuers after their ship ran aground on a reef they were inspecting.
The HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s specialist diving and hydrographic vessel, was conducting an offshore reef survey from the Samoan island off the south coast of Upolu before running aground on Saturday.
The ship subsequently capsized and was completely submerged on Sunday morning.
A vision published by local media showed the $93 million Navy ship listing as the ship took on water while thick, black smoke clouded the sky above it.
Several ships assisted in the immediate rescue efforts and picked up the crew and passengers who had abandoned the ship in lifeboats.
The P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft was also deployed to assist in rescue efforts.
But rescuers battled the elements as strong currents and winds pushed life rafts and boats containing the 75 crew toward the reefs.
The strong waves only made rescue efforts more challenging.
The HMNZS Manawanui ran aground off the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu on Saturday.
Samoan police and emergency teams reportedly worked with Australian Defense personnel to bring the ship’s crew to safety.
Crews worked through Saturday night, battling strong winds and currents, to get the ship’s crew to shore.
“We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated the rescue efforts, to the ships who responded and took our crew and passengers from Manawanui to safety,” said New Zealand Maritime Component Commander , Commodore Shane Arndell.
A Lockheed Martin Super Hercules aircraft also departed the Auckland base carrying medical and social care staff, as well as light cleaning equipment. The Royal New Zealand Navy said they are planning more flights, but none are confirmed.
The Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority said its rescue team worked through the night and morning to recover and treat the crew of the HMNZS Manawanui.
‘Fortunately no one was seriously injured and no lives were lost. “We are proud to say we saved them,” a spokesperson said.
Two crew members were subsequently hospitalized: one with a dislocated shoulder and the other with back pain.
Another dozen crew members suffered minor cuts and pain.
New Zealand’s Navy Chief said she is “interested” to know the exact reason the $98 million ship sank.
The Samoa Police Maritime Unit, Prison and Correctional Services collaborated with the Emergency Service Authority and Australian Defense personnel and the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center on the operations.
“All 75 crew members aboard the Manawanui have been safely evacuated and accounted for, and emergency personnel have confirmed that all crew members are safe and receiving medical attention,” the police maritime unit said.
At this time, the exact cause of the grounding is unknown and will be the subject of further investigation.
Currently, the Navy understands that the following was the basic timeline of the incident: ‘at 6:40 am on Sunday, the ship was listing heavily and smoke was visible from the ship. At 9:00 a.m. it was known that it had capsized and was under the surface.”
The NZDF is reportedly working with authorities to understand the implications and minimize environmental impacts.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Samoan authorities are providing support to Manawanui’s crew and passengers and they are being accommodated in Samoa,” the navy said in a statement.
The NZDF will send planes to Samoa to bring them back to New Zealand.
Online, the crew’s family thanked local rescuers for returning the 75 crew members to Samoa.
The exact cause of the ship’s grounding is still unknown, but the New Zealand Defense Force will investigate the incident.
‘Arohanui’: Loved ones of those rescued from lifeboats thanked local emergency services online
Relieved families of the rescued crew members took to social media to thank those involved in returning the men and women of HMNZS Manawanui to safety.
‘Thank you for everything you have done to ensure my husband and his fellow sailors can return home! May our heavenly Father bless you and your families,” wrote a sailor’s wife.
Another added: ‘Thank you for rescuing our women and men. I am very happy to know that my daughter-in-law and her shipmates are safe. Arohanui.’
New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said the grounding had been “really challenging for everyone on board”.
“I know it’s going to take a long time to process what happened,” he said at a news conference, according to Reuters.
“I hope to identify the cause so we can learn from it and prevent it from happening again,” he said of the $93 million ship.