A key milestone has been reached in the salvage operation with the arrival of the salvors’ tug and barge into Apia, Samoa, bringing the equipment for the recovery of the fuel and other pollutants from the HMNZS Manawanui, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said in its update regarding the response to the grounding and sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui off the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa.
HMNZS Manawanui ran aground in Samoa whilst conducting a hydrographic survey of a reef on Saturday, October 5, 2024. The ship sank on Sunday, October 6. The 75 crew and passengers began evacuating into lifeboats at 7.52 pm on October 5.
All 75 people aboard were successfully rescued, according to the NZDF’s statement.
While in Apia, the salvors are working through the necessary approvals and permissions from the Samoan government to allow the fuel and other pollutants removal to commence.
NZDF’s senior national representative for operation resolution, commodore Andrew Brown said, “Essential engineering configuration changes and equipment preparation is underway, changing the barge from a cargo configuration to operational diving mode. While this work is progressing, the salvors are confirming locations for the barge’s anchoring system installations.”
The NZDF has specialist engineering and dive personnel providing oversight and professional advice to the salvors. This response is complex and technical, the NZDF reported on Monday.
“The safe removal of fuel and other pollutants from HMNZS Manawanui is absolutely critical. New Zealand is determined to do the right thing as we know how important the coastal and marine environments are to the people of Samoa, especially those on the south west coast of Upolu,” commodore Brown noted.
Once the work in Apia is completed this week, the barge will be towed to the location of Manawanui on the south west coast, Commodore Brown added. “Once the barge is in place with all the site and equipment preparations complete, work will commence on the fuel and pollutants removal.”
As it is reported by NZDF, the weather particularly at this time of year, will play a part in the removal process.
How long the operation takes will be very dependent on factors such as weather and sea conditions.
