First Navy Ship Lost By New Zealand Since WWII Poses A Threat To An Oil Spill Off The Coast Of Samoa

After the HMNZS Manawanui fell on a reef off the coast of Samoa on Sunday, posing a threat to the environment in waters utilized for tourism and fishing, the New Zealand navy suffered its first ship loss since World War II.

Authorities in New Zealand have reported that on Saturday night, while conducting a reef survey one nautical mile off the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolo, the specialist diving and hydrographic vessel lost power and ran aground.

The ship was “listing heavily” by Sunday morning, according to the navy. Around 6:40 a.m., smoke was noticed, and by 9 a.m., the ship had submerged.

Authorities declared that it was the first unintended sinking of a New Zealand naval warship since the Second World War and established a court of inquiry to investigate the incident.

Now, local companies and environmentalists are concerned about the accident’s possible effects on the ecosystem. It happened in the waters off the most populous island in Samoa.

“People enjoy watching the many sea turtles that swim around our lagoon, so hopefully nothing bad happens to them,” Brian Rose, manager of Coconuts Beach Club at Maninoa, told CNN affiliate RNZ.

New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins told Newstalk ZB that authorities’ first priority was determining the depth of the vessel and the likelihood of a spill.

“It’s got a lot of oil on board. It contains urea, fuel, hydro oil, and lubricating oil. It contains a great deal of material. And we can’t just kind of leave it like that, in my opinion,” she remarked.

She said that on Sunday night, divers were dispatched to the scene. It’s going to be a tough task, but they’ll be looking to see what they can do, she continued.

In motion In a press release on Sunday, Samoan Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio stated that there was a strong likelihood of an oil disaster. “Environmental spill kits” have been delivered from New Zealand, according to New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon, to help lessen and mitigate the consequences.

The HMNZS Manawanui was a relatively new addition to the New Zealand navy, having been purchased in 2018 for roughly $100 million NZD ($61 million), albeit it was built in the early 2000s.

“Survey harbors and approaches prior to larger support ships landing support equipment and personnel whether for combat or disaster relief,” the navy states that the ship’s purpose was designed to accomplish.