A New Zealand Navy vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, ran aground 1 nautical mile off the coast of Siumu, Samoa, while conducting a hydrographic survey over the weekend. All 75 crew members were safely evacuated, thanks to the swift action of a coordinated rescue effort involving the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA), the Samoa Police maritime team, the Nafanua patrol boat, and two other organisations, with no lives lost. The incident raises questions about the coordination and communication between foreign naval operations and local authorities in Samoa.
Tanuvasa Petone, Samoa’s fire commissioner, confirmed in an interview with RNZ that the rescue was successful, with only minor injuries reported.
“They’re all on land. They are safe and sound apart from just a few individuals that… have some minor injuries, and so we treated them at the site and transferred them to the hospital,” Petone said.
There is no clear indication whether there was sufficient interagency communication between local authorities and the New Zealand Navy regarding the vessel’s activities near Samoa’s coastline. This has raised questions about the level of coordination between foreign naval operations and Samoan authorities in such situations.
HMNZS Manawanui, a dive and hydrographic vessel, was carrying out a survey aimed at mapping the seafloor when it struck the reef. The purpose of this survey, particularly around Samoa’s coral reefs, remains unclear. While hydrographic surveys are often crucial for ensuring safe navigation and monitoring underwater environments, questions have arisen regarding the necessity and specific focus of this mission in Samoan waters.
In previous operations across the Pacific, Manawanui had been involved in World War II ordnance disposal and other underwater research, but Samoa’s reefs were not directly impacted by World War II. This has led to speculation about the broader objectives of the survey and whether there are existing agreements between Samoa and New Zealand for such naval research.
Efforts to clarify whether Samoan authorities, including the Ministry of Police, were fully informed about the Navy’s operations are ongoing. Attempts to contact Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone and the Minister of Police have been made to seek clarification on the extent of coordination between the two governments regarding foreign naval activities in Samoan waters.
As the investigation into the incident continues, key questions remain unanswered: Was there an equipment failure on board Manawanui? What led to the grounding despite the advanced technology typically used in hydrographic surveys? And most importantly, what agreements are in place between New Zealand and Samoa regarding such operations, and were all relevant Samoan departments properly informed?
