The recovery of the sunken HMNZS Manawanui has begun, with efforts focused on controlling the diesel leak from the wreck.
New Zealand’s Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Andrew Brown, said the recovery will take time, but New Zealand is fully committed to working with the Samoan government to remove the vessel. Brown is leading Operation Resolution, which involves 60 New Zealand personnel in Samoa handling the recovery and cleanup.
He emphasized the importance of working closely with the Samoan government and other agencies, like Maritime New Zealand, to minimise any environmental damage from the sinking of the Manawanui.
The Samoan government, alongside the Pacific regional environment group SPREP and Samoa’s Ocean Strategy, is part of a committee managing the pollution response. Underwater footage is being taken daily, and fuel leaks are being monitored. So far, no leaks from the main fuel tanks have been found, but up to 200,000 liters of fuel may have leaked from the ship. The Manawanui had 950 tonnes of diesel on board when it sank.
Experts in salvage are working with Operation Resolution, reaching out to international companies to assist with removing the remaining fuel. Commodore Brown noted that fuel leaking from the wreck is currently low in quantity, but monitoring of the surrounding beaches, environment, and wildlife is ongoing. Divers are also searching the seabed for debris and testing for water contamination.
The committee has reported significant damage to the reef, with the area of damage covering about 5,000 square meters. There is no set timeline for removing the diesel or salvaging the ship due to the complexity of the situation, which involves challenging diving operations and weather conditions.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has personally apologised to Samoan leaders for the ship’s sinking and said both nations are focused on limiting the environmental impact.
