New Zealand may be an island, but its military navy [RNZN – Royal New Zealand Navy] has very limited resources. Thus, last but not least, for lack of sailors to arm them, it had to put its two “Protector” type offshore patrol boats in reserve. [les HMNZS Otago et HMNZS Wellington]after having sold two of its coastal patrol boats belonging to the “Rotoiti” class to Ireland.
After these decisions, the RNZN only had seven operational units, namely two ANZAC-type frigates, two coastal patrol boats, an amphibious vessel [le HMNZS Canterbury]a multi-purpose support vessel with oceanographic capabilities [le HMNZS Manawanui] and a supply tanker [le HMNZS Aotearoa]. At least that was still the case until recently.
Indeed, on the evening of October 5, while carrying out a hydrographic survey approximately one nautical mile off the island of Upolu [Samoa]the HMNZS Manawanui hit a reef… before capsizing and sinking. Its 75 crew members were able to be rescued in time, despite difficult conditions.
“The Rescue Operations Coordination Center [RCCNZ] led the rescue operations. Many ships intervened to help. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist,” the New Zealand Defense Force summarized [NZDF]via a press release.
He added: “Rescuers had to fight against the currents and winds which pushed the life rafts and boats towards the reefs. The swell made their rescue efforts particularly difficult.”
The rescue operation began at 7:52 p.m. [heure locale]. Then, at 06:40, HMNZS Manawanui listed, emitting smoke. It then capsized and sank around 9:00 a.m.
The New Zealand ship had sailed from Devonport for its third South Pacific deployment of the year on 28 September. His return was scheduled for November 1. As expected, an investigation was opened to determine the causes and circumstances of its sinking.
With a displacement of more than 5,700 tonnes and a length of 84.7 meters, the HMNZS Manawanui was built by the Norwegian shipyard Myklebust Verft AS in 2003. After having been used for fifteen years as a study ship for the oil industry , it was acquired by the New Zealand Navy in 2018.
“The role of the Manawanui is to support our operations in the maritime domain. The ship can survey ports and approaches before larger support ships disembark equipment and personnel, whether for combat or disaster relief,” the NZDF explains.
Note that the HMNZS Manawanui is not the first military ship to suffer an incident in the Pacific this year. In June, the Fijian patrol boat RFNS Puamau ran aground near the Lau archipelago, even though it had just been delivered by the Australian shipyard Austal. But unlike the New Zealand vessel, it was able to be towed to the island of Ogea.
Photo: New Zealand Ministry of Defense
