New Zealand’s Defense Minister played down the environmental impacts on Samoa’s marine life and maritime reserve area caused by the HMNZS Manawanui that caught fire and sunk off the coast of Upolu on Sunday morning.
All 75 crew and passengers were rescued and brought to safety with the assistance of Samoa’s Fire and Emergency Services Authority and the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) – after the ship ran aground off the coast of Siumu on Saturday afternoon.
FESA say they responded to distress calls of the Manawanui vessel navy crew on Saturday night.
Fire and Emergency Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga led the FESA operation.
“We worked throughout the night until the early hours of Sunday morning..”
“Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and no lives were lost.”
“All 75 crew and passengers on board the lifeboats and sea boats from HMNZS Manawanui were transferred to vessels that responded to the rescue call and were transported ashore.”
In a press statement, Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell says the incident occurred on Saturday evening while conducting a reef hydrographic survey about one nautical mile from shore.
Asked if the incident was an embarrassment, New Zealand’s Defense Minister in a press conference held at 1pm this afternoon, said she can never be embarrassed by the NZ Navy.
According to Judith Collins, the area being surveyed hadn’t been surveyed since 1987, “and it was work that needed to be done.”
Samoa’s Fire and Emergency Services have issued a warning that vessels unfamiliar or unsure about Samoa’s coastline should proceed with caution.
New Zealand’s Chief of Navy says it’s too early to speculate the cause of the grounding and praised the decision to abandon ship.
Defence Minister Judith Collins says its a “triumph” no one died, praising the professionalism, training and courage of the crew.
Collins has played down the environmental impacts on Samoa’s marine life as nearby villages of Siumu and Sanaapu air concerns of an oil spill and other damage to nearby marine reserves.
Collins told medi ks that Maritime NZ has “quite the kit” when it comes to oil spills, adding that “they will be available should Samoa need assistance.
Judith Collins says she has spoken with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who will speak with Samoa’s Acting Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio.
Nearby villages are devastated at the potential impacts of pollution from the sunken ship.
NZDF say they are working with authorities to understand the implications and minimise the environmental impacts.
The NZDF will be sending an aircraft to Samoa to bring them back to New Zealand.
Samoa’s Acting Prime Minister has called a press conference with local media at 6pm Sunday evening.
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