The New Zealand Defence Force announced the rescue of 75 people aboard a naval oceanographic vessel that struck a reef and sank off the coast of Samoa. The vessel was conducting reef research in the area at the time of the incident.
The incident occurred on Saturday night, according to the Defence Force. All 75 aboard the HMNZS Manawanui evacuated using lifeboats or were picked up by nearby vessels after the ship hit the reef near Upolu, one of the islands in Samoa, located in the South Pacific.
Local media broadcast footage showing smoke rising from the ship before it sank beneath the waves.
“All 75 crew members and passengers of the HMNZS Manawanui safely reached Samoa,” said Vice Admiral Shane Ardern in a press release issued by the Defence Force. The exact cause of the shipwreck remains unclear, and an investigation is underway.
Rescue teams battled strong currents and winds that pushed rescue boats towards the reefs, with rough seas making the operation particularly challenging, the Defence Force reported. A P-8A Poseidon aircraft was deployed to assist with reconnaissance and coordination efforts.
The Manawanui, which was conducting research about a nautical mile from the coast under difficult conditions, was built in 2003 and entered service in New Zealand in 2019 after being purchased from Norway for NZD 103 million in 2018. Authorities in Samoa had issued a severe weather warning for the southern coast of Upolu over the weekend, predicting tides and waves up to four meters.
The rescued individuals are expected to be transported back by an Air Force aircraft, according to Rear Admiral Garin Golding, with some having sustained minor injuries.
The New Zealand Navy has been facing personnel shortages, with three of its nine ships currently docked due to staffing issues.
