New Zealand navy ship catches fire, sinks, causing oil spill off Samoa

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: A fuel spill is "highly probable" after a New Zealand navy ship grounded, caught fire, and sank off the coast of Samoa, according to the Pacific island nation's acting Prime Minister, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio.

All 75 people aboard the HMNZS Manawanui, including civilian scientists and foreign military personnel, were safely evacuated in lifeboats. The evacuation took place in challenging conditions and darkness after the vessel grounded on a reef and began taking on water about a mile from shore.

The ship, one of only nine in New Zealand's navy, was the first lost at sea since World War II. Rear Admiral Garin Golding, New Zealand's Chief of Navy, said the grounding occurred October 6 morning, and it took five hours for the first survivors to reach land. One person was treated in hospital for minor injuries, and up to 17 others suffered cuts, bruises, or suspected concussions.

An Air Force plane transported 72 of the rescued passengers to an air base in Auckland on Monday night.

New Zealand will conduct a court of inquiry into the loss of the ship. Defence Minister Judith Collins said the accident might have been caused by a loss of power, which led to the vessel's grounding. The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, had been surveying a reef off the coast of Upolu, Samoa's most populous island when the incident occurred.

Photos and videos taken from shore showed the ship listing before disappearing beneath the waves, with a plume of smoke rising from the area. Collins confirmed that the vessel, purchased in 2018 for $100 million NZ dollars (US$61 million), was beyond salvage.

The ship carried a significant amount of fuel, and efforts are now focused on assessing the environmental impact. The military said the ship was not covered by insurance, and New Zealand would be responsible for addressing any potential spill.

The incident has highlighted concerns over New Zealand's aging military fleet, with a March report describing the navy as "extremely fragile." Of the navy's eight remaining ships, only five are currently operational.