Apia — The Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure has issued a formal declaration creating a 300-metre safety buffer zone around the wreck of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui, making the area a prohibited area under Section 177 of the Samoa Shipping Act 1998.
The declaration bans any person, vessel, or aircraft (manned or unmanned) from being on or above the sea within the 300-metre radius. It also states the restriction applies to aircraft operating below 500 feet above sea level within the zone.
The notice says the prohibited area will remain in place until the wreck is secured, citing risks including unstable structures that may collapse, sharp metal edges, entanglement hazards from ropes and cables, and the risk of disorientation and entrapment from reduced visibility after debris is disturbed.
For the public, the restriction means the area closest to the wreck is off limits, including for fishing and boating, unless a person is authorised to enter the zone.
HMNZS Manawanui ran aground while conducting hydrographic survey work off Samoa on 5 October 2024 and later sank on 6 October 2024, with all 75 people on board surviving.
The latest restriction sits alongside earlier government advisories that were introduced after the sinking. In February 2025, authorities confirmed the removal of a wider “precautionary zone” that advised against fishing in Safata, while stating that a separate prohibited zone around the wreck site remained in effect during ongoing operations.
A map published in relation to the prohibited zone has previously shown the wreck location off the southern coast of Upolu and the boundary of the restricted area.
Source note: This report is based on an official declaration issued by the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure and related public updates from New Zealand Defence Force and Radio New Zealand.
