Crew blunders lead to sinking of New Zealand navy ship off Samoa coast
- Human errors by the crew led to the sinking of a New Zealand navy ship off the Samoan coast.
- The ship sank after striking a reef, but all 75 crew members were safely evacuated.
- The investigation found that lack of training and oversight contributed to the disaster.
In October, a military investigation revealed that a series of human errors led to the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, a New Zealand navy vessel, off the coast of Samoa. The ship plowed into a reef about 1.6 kilometers from Upolu, resulting in a fire that caused the vessel to sink. Fortunately, all 75 personnel on board were able to evacuate safely before the incident. The investigation disclosed that the crew failed to recognize that the autopilot was engaged, leading them to misinterpret the ship’s direction issues as a thruster malfunction. The report criticized the crew's oversight, highlighting significant lapses in training, planning, supervision, and overall readiness that contributed to the disaster. Following the preliminary report, three crew members from the ship's bridge are likely to face disciplinary action as a result of these operational failures, representing a serious loss for New Zealand's naval capabilities, as this marked the first time the country had lost a ship at sea since World War II. Despite fears about environmental damage, officials have noted that most of the fuel burned off in the fire, and there have been no significant reports of ecological impact. The navy remains committed to restoring public trust after this tragic event.