The HMNZS Manawanui has run aground near the Samoan island of Upolu.
The ship, known for its specialised diving and hydrographic capabilities, was conducting routine operations in the Pacific when the incident occurred.
The grounding was tracked by Marinetraffic.com on Saturday night at 10:45 pm, just off the village of Siumu on Upolu’s southern coast. The ship had left Auckland’s Devonport naval base on 29 September, heading for the Pacific.
HMNZS Manawanui, commissioned in late 2019, is equipped to carry a crew of 39 with space for up to 66 personnel. It boasts a top speed of 14 knots (26 km/h). Most recently, the vessel participated in a seven-week mission in November 2023, where it carried out underwater surveys and helped clear World War II ordnance in Niue, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
The Defence Force has not yet provided an official response regarding the grounding.
