A ship in New Zealand's naval fleet has run aground near Samoa in the South Pacific and sunk. After a dramatic rescue operation in the dark with strong winds and high waves, all 75 crew members and passengers on board HMNZS Manawanui were rescued.
"The 75 crew members and passengers on HMNZS Manawanui have been taken to safety in Samoa," says Shane Arndell, commander of the New Zealand Navy, in a statement.
Defense Minister Judith Collins says it's incredibly fortunate and a relief that no one was killed, otherwise it could have been a truly terrible day, reports the New Zealand Herald.
The ship is 85 meters long and 5,741 tons, built in Norway in 2003. It was purchased by New Zealand in 2018 and began operating the following year. It is specialized for diving missions and seafloor surveys but can also be used for mine-related tasks.
The ship was conducting a mapping of the waters when it ran aground. It also caught fire. This is the first time, in peacetime, that the navy has lost a unit.
The rescue service in Samoa reports that the rescue operation lasted for many hours after the ship ran aground on Saturday evening, local time.
According to the New Zealand Navy, the rescue team struggled with strong currents, winds, and high waves that carried rescue boats and lifeboats with the 75 on board Manawanui towards the reef.
It is not known what caused the accident.
