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New Zealand Navy's $100M HMNZS Manawanui (A09) Sinks Off Samoa; All 75 Rescued

Oct 6, 2024, 02:04 AM

The Royal New Zealand Navy's multi-role offshore support vessel, HMNZS Manawanui (A09), ran aground on a reef near the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa, on October 5, 2024. The vessel subsequently caught fire and sank. All 75 crew members aboard were safely rescued, with three hospitalized. The ship was conducting a reef survey at the time of the incident. The French cable ship Lodborg and the British cruise liner Queen Elizabeth responded to the mayday call. The loss of Manawanui, valued at over $100 million, represents a significant blow to the Royal New Zealand Navy, reducing its fleet by 12%. An investigation into the cause of the grounding is ongoing, as stated by New Zealand's Defense Minister Judith Collins.