New Zealand releases first video of lost survey vessel

The New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has released its first video of the wreckage of the lost survey ship HMNZS Manawanuialong with images of the light fuel sheen on the surface near the site. Fortunately, the agency believes that the limited fuel leak identified at the scene did not originate from the main fuel tanks, but rather from a much smaller source in the engine room.

“HMNZS Manawanuis “Large fuel tanks will almost certainly remain intact,” the NZDF said in a statement. “Based on the estimated size of the diesel spill, it is likely that significantly less diesel spilled than originally estimated.”

On October 5th the research vessel HMNZS Manawanui ran aground off the southern coast of Upolu Island, Samoa. The vessel was conducting a hydrographic survey and operating in rough and windy conditions approximately one nautical mile from shore. Under circumstances still under investigation, the ship grounded, overturned, caught fire and sank.

All 75 crew members and scientists on board successfully left the ship and made it to shore despite rough conditions. A lifeboat capsized and the survivors had to walk across the reef to reach the beach, sustaining cuts and scrapes in the process. 14 people escaped with minor injuries, but all survived.

The New Zealand Navy continues to conduct regular surveys of the beach near the wreck site and has so far found no signs of pollution or fuel leaks on the shore. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has provided drone overflight services to help monitor for contamination and has also not observed any impact on the coastline to date.

A flyover by an NZDF P-8 Poseidon on Thursday confirmed the presence of a 350 meter long light landslide that extended away from the shore and dissipated out to sea. Fortunately, Manawanui carried only diesel fuel – not muddy, difficult-to-remove heavy fuel oil – so the potential for permanent pollution is low.

Three containers of Manawanui washed over the side and swam onto the reef. One contained rigging that was salvaged; one still contained food and the other contained garbage. The NZDF has set up a hotline in Samoa for residents to report debris floating ashore. To date, NZDF staff, with local support, have recovered and removed approximately one tonne of debris.

Deputy Chief of the Navy Commodore Andrew Brown told RNZ the service was still working out the best options for dealing with the remaining 950 tonnes of diesel fuel on board Manawanui and formulating a response plan for the wreck itself. The ship lies 30 meters down next to a reef and the question of whether to attempt to salvage it – at extraordinary cost – has not yet been resolved.

“Recovery efforts will take time but New Zealand is committed to doing the right thing,” he told RNZ. “We are committed to working with the Samoan Government and will continue to work locally and from New Zealand to support the larger deployment and removal of Manawanui.”