On October 5, 2024, the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel Manawanui sank off the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa, during a reef survey. Fortunately, all 75 crew and passengers on board were safely rescued, as confirmed by the New Zealand Defence Force. The vessel reportedly ran aground before capsizing by 9 AM local time on October 6, 2024. A P-8A Poseidon aircraft was deployed for the rescue operations, which successfully retrieved everyone from the water, although minor injuries were reported among some of the rescued individuals [afc2f52a].
Defence Minister Judith Collins emphasized the importance of investigating the cause of the grounding, highlighting the need for accountability and safety measures in naval operations. The Manawanui, which cost NZ$103 million when commissioned in 2018, was primarily used for diving and marine survey tasks [afc2f52a].
This incident comes at a time when New Zealand's Navy is operating with reduced capacity due to personnel shortages, raising concerns about the impact on maritime safety and operational readiness [afc2f52a].