The HMNZS Manawanui, a New Zealand naval ship, met a tragic fate after crashing into a coral reef, catching fire, and sinking while mistakenly set on autopilot in Samoan waters.
According to BBC, a thorough inquiry revealed human errors as the primary cause behind the naval disaster.
The incident occurred when the crew, believing the ship was under manual control, faced difficulties due to a misidentified issue with the ship's thruster. This oversight led to the inability to change course, resulting in the ship striking the reef.
Navy Chief Garin Golding admitted the crew’s misjudgment: “Muscle memory from the person in control should have leaned over to that panel and checked whether the screen said autopilot or not.”
All 75 individuals onboard were safely evacuated before the ship began to sink. In the aftermath, oil began leaking from the sunken vessel, raising significant concerns about environmental damage among the Samoan coastal communities.
Environmental Threat from Sinking Ship
Navy Chief Garin Golding has emphasized the Navy’s commitment to addressing the consequences of this incident. Specialists have started to deploy equipment to Samoa to attempt the removal of the remaining fuel and pollutants from the wreckage to mitigate further environmental impact. However, authorities have not disclosed any plans to extract the sunken ship itself.
Divers have been actively monitoring the site for any persistent leaks, and the spill has been described as a slow but steady flow of oil into the ocean.
Strong Responses to Gender-Based Criticisms
The sunken HMNZS Manawanui was an integral part of New Zealand's relatively small fleet, which comprises nine vessels, marking this as the first loss since World War Two. This incident sparked unjust social media backlash aimed at the ship’s female captain, attributing the crash to her gender.
Such comments were promptly denounced by New Zealand's Defense Minister, who criticized the baseless gender bias by calling the perpetrators "armchair admirals."
Adding to the Navy’s response, Navy Chief Garin Golding affirmed the lessons to be learned and the steps being taken to ensure such an incident does not recur: “I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation and that it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust.”
Navy Leads Efforts to Rectify and Learn
The official inquiry continues to examine the series of errors that led to this unfortunate event, with conclusions and results expected next year. In addition, a separate disciplinary process is underway for three unnamed crew members linked to the incident.
This tragic incident while conducting surveys off Upolu island in challenging weather conditions underscores the need for rigorous checks and balances in naval operations, especially when automatic systems are engaged.
This has been a sobering event for New Zealand's Navy and a reminder of the relentless dangers faced by those safeguarding our waters.
The conclusions drawn from this investigation will hopefully guide future operations and restore confidence in the Navy's commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.
