Dozens of crew from a Kiwi navy ship had to be pulled to safety by Australian and Samoan rescuers after their ship ran aground on a reef they were exploring.
HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s specialist diving and hydrographic vessel, was conducting a reef survey off the coast of the Samoan island of Upolu before it ran aground on Saturday.
The ship later capsized and was completely submerged on Sunday morning.
A vision published by local media showed the $93 million Navy ship tilting as it took on water, with thick black smoke clouding the sky above.
Several ships assisted in immediate rescue efforts and picked up crew members and passengers who had abandoned ship in lifeboats
The anti-submarine aircraft P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
But rescuers battled the elements as strong currents and winds pushed life rafts and sea boats carrying the 75 crew members onto the reefs.
Heavy swells only made rescue efforts more challenging.
HMNZS Manawanui ran aground off the south coast of the Samoan island of Upolu on Saturday
Samoan police and emergency services reportedly worked with Australian defense personnel to get the ship’s crew to safety
Crews worked Saturday night, battling strong winds and currents, to bring the ship’s crew ashore
“We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated the rescue efforts, to the ships that responded and brought our Manawanui crew and passengers to safety,” said NZ Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell.
A Lockheed Martin Super Hercules aircraft also left Base Auckland with medical and welfare personnel on board, as well as light cleaning equipment. The NZ Royal Navy said they are planning further flights, but none have been confirmed.
The Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority said their rescue team worked through the night and into the morning to retrieve and treat the crew of HMNZS Manawanui.
‘Thankfully no one was seriously injured and no lives were lost. We are proud to have saved them,” a spokesperson said.
Two crew members were later hospitalized, one with a dislocated shoulder and the other with a sore back.
Another dozen crew members suffered minor cuts and pain.
The head of NZ’s navy said she would ‘like’ to know the exact reason why the $98 million ship sank
The Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services Maritime Unit worked with the Emergency Service Authority and Australian Defense Force personnel and the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand in the operations.
“All 75 crew members on board the Manawanui have been safely evacuated and are being treated. Emergency services confirm that all crew members are safe and receiving medical attention,” the police maritime unit said.
At this stage the exact cause of the grounding is unknown and will be the subject of further investigation.
The Navy currently believes the following was the basic timeline of the incident: “At 6:40 a.m. Sunday, the ship listed heavily and smoke was visible from the ship. By 9:00 AM it was known to have capsized and was below the surface.
The NZDF is reportedly working with authorities to understand the implications and minimize environmental impacts.
“Support is being provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Samoan authorities to the crew and passengers from Manawanui and they are being accommodated in Samoa,” the Navy said in a statement.
The NZDF will send aircraft to Samoa to return them to New Zealand.”
Online, the crew’s family thanked local rescuers for bringing all 75 crew members back to Samoa
The exact cause of the ship’s grounding is still unknown, but the New Zealand Defense Force will investigate the incident
‘Arohanui’: Relatives of those rescued from lifeboats thanked local emergency services online
Relieved families of rescued crew members took to social media to thank those involved in bringing the men and women on HMNZS Manawanui to safety.
‘Thank you for everything you did to make sure my husband and his fellow sailors could come home! May Heavenly Father bless you and your family,” wrote the wife of a sailor.
Another added: “Thank you for saving our women and men. I am so happy to know that my daughter-in-law and her shipmates are safe. Arohanui.’
New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins said the grounding was “very challenging for everyone on board.”
“I know that what happened will take quite some time to process,” she said at a news conference, according to Reuters.
“I look forward to identifying the cause so we can learn from it and prevent a recurrence,” she said of the $93 million ship.