A Royal New Zealand Navy warship ran aground and then sank off Samoa. All 75 passengers and crew on board have been evacuated to safety in the island nation, the New Zealand Defense Force said in a statement today, cited by Reuters and BTA.
„Manavanui” – a specialized hydrographic research vessel ran aground yesterday off the southern coast of Samoa's second-largest island, Upolu, while surveying a reef, Rear Admiral Shane Arndle, the country's Navy commander, said.
Several vessels assisted in the rescue of passengers and crew who left the ship in lifeboats. “The rescued are being cared for in Samoa and in auxiliary vessels,” said the rear admiral. New Zealand patrol plane P-8A “Poseidon“ was lifted into the air to assist the rescue operation.
The cause of the stranding is still unclear and further investigation will be required, the New Zealand Defense Force said.
Local media published video materials and footage of how the “Manawanui”, which cost the government in Wellington 103 million New Zealand dollars (113 million leva), toppled over and gray smoke billowed above it.
The vessel later capsized and sank, the New Zealand Defense Force said. From there, they added that they are cooperating with the Samoan authorities “to understand the consequences and minimize the impact on the environment”.
New Zealand's navy is currently operating at reduced capacity, with three of its nine ships out of service due to crew shortages, according to Reuters.