New Zealand loses first naval ship to sea since WW2

The Royal New Zealand Navy has misplaced its first ship to the ocean since World Battle Two, after considered one of its vessels ran aground off the coast of Samoa.

The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist diving and ocean imaging ship, got here into hassle about one nautical mile from the island of Upolu on Saturday night time native time, whereas conducting a survey of a reef.

It later caught fireplace earlier than capsizing.

All 75 folks on board have been evacuated onto lifeboats and rescued early on Sunday, in keeping with New Zealand’s Defence Drive mentioned in a press release.

New Zealand mentioned the reason for the grounding was unknown and will probably be investigated.

The incident occurred throughout a bout of tough and windy climate.

Navy officers mentioned rescuers “battled” currents and winds that pushed life rafts and sea boats in direction of the reefs, and swells made rescue efforts “difficult”.

Officers mentioned the world had not been surveyed since 1987.

The vessel’s crew and passengers – together with seven scientists and 4 international army personnel – are being accommodated in Samoa earlier than being flown again to New Zealand.

As of 06:40 native time on Sunday (18:40 BST on Saturday), the ship was seen itemizing closely with smoke billowing from it.

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

Defence minister Judith Collins described the incident as “a very unhappy day for the Navy” throughout a information convention.

She added: “However everybody got here by means of, and that, I’ve to say, is all the way down to the professionalism [of the crew], the coaching and their very own braveness.”

Dave Poole, who witnessed the ship ablaze, instructed the Reuters information company: “As we got here into the bay we noticed the ship and no smoke. Inside quarter-hour fireplace and smoke have been seen. It sank shortly after.”

The HMNZS Manawanui is the primary of New Zealand’s naval vessels to be unintentionally sunk because the nation participated in naval battles throughout World Battle Two.

A number of different ships have been deliberately sunk within the intervening interval for numerous causes, together with to function a diving wreck or a man-made reef.

Navy officers mentioned their efforts at the moment are turning in direction of trying to salvage the vessel and minimising the environmental impacts of the sinking.