New Zealand loses first naval ship at sea since World War II

A Royal New Zealand Navy ship has run aground off the coast of Samoa, dropping its first vessel to go to sea since World Warfare II.

HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist diving and marine imaging vessel, encountered bother whereas surveying the reef a couple of nautical mile off Upolu Island on Saturday night native time.

It later caught hearth earlier than capsizing.

All 75 folks on board have been evacuated to lifeboats and rescued early Sunday, the New Zealand Protection Pressure mentioned in an announcement.

New Zealand mentioned the explanation for the grounding was unclear and could be investigated.

The incident occurred amid extreme and windy climate.

Army officers mentioned rescuers “battled” currents and excessive winds that pushed life rafts and boats towards the reef, whereas waves made the rescue effort “difficult.”

The realm has not been surveyed since 1987, officers mentioned.

The ship’s crew and passengers – together with seven scientists and 4 international army personnel – are staying in Samoa earlier than flying again to New Zealand.

As of 06:40 native time on Sunday (18:40 BST on Saturday), the ship was itemizing closely and thick smoke was emitting.

By 09:00 (21:00 BST on Saturday) it was beneath the floor.

Protection Secretary Judith Collins referred to as the incident “a extremely unhappy day for the Navy” at a information convention.

She added: “However everybody bought by way of it and I’ve to say it got here right down to professionalism [of the crew]coaching and their very own braveness.

Dave Poole, who witnessed the ship catching hearth, instructed Reuters: “Once we entered the bay we noticed no smoke coming from the ship. Inside quarter-hour we noticed hearth and smoke. Shortly after that it was sunk.

HMNZS Manawanui was New Zealand’s first naval ship to be by chance sunk since collaborating in a naval battle throughout World Warfare II.

A number of different ships have been deliberately sunk throughout this era for varied causes, together with use as diving wrecks or synthetic reefs.

Army officers mentioned their efforts at the moment are turning to attempting to salvage the ship and reduce the environmental influence of the sinking.