Summarised by Centrist
The sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, which hit a reef off the coast of Samoa, has been attributed to “a series of human errors,” according to an interim Court of Inquiry report.
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding admits the auto-pilot should have been switched off, which led to the crew’s inability to change the ship’s direction. They failed to verify manual control status mistakenly believing a thruster control failure was to blame.
The report outlines critical moments leading to the disaster. On 5 October 2024, the ship was conducting survey operations near Samoa when it failed to respond during a routine turn. The Manawanui left its designated survey area and accelerated towards a reef, grounding at speeds exceeding 10 knots.
Attempts to stop or manoeuvre the ship off the reef failed, and control wasn’t regained until 10 minutes after the initial grounding. Despite efforts, the ship was abandoned just before 7:00 PM after being deemed unsafe. It later caught fire, capsized, and sank the next morning.
“We are implementing lessons identified around training, risk management, and improving relevant orders, instructions and procedures,” Golding said.
The final Court of Inquiry report, expected early next year, will determine disciplinary actions and further changes to Navy protocols.
Image: New Zealand Defence Force
