HMNZS MANAWANUI

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Latest news

Sunken survey ship will not be replaced and is likely to stay on the bottom

The 'Manawanui' will not be replaced, according to Defence Minister Judith Collins, as dive and survey work is not the Defence’s “main job”: "I’d rather have that money go into the fact that we have a large maritime area, and we have to be significantly more, say, able to deal with that and what might be happening in the future.” Collins will before the end of March reveal the Government’s long-awaited Defence Capability Plan, which will outline billions of dollars of defence spending for the coming decades. Major decisions need to be made about navy assets in particular, with much of the fleet reaching end-of-life in a decade. The $103 million dive and survey vessel acquired by defence in 2019, was among late-arising issues in the development of the plan, which Collins said was being considered by Cabinet. Collins said she would not spend $120m or $200m on a new survey ship, given dive and survey needs could be met by the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS 'Otago' and the new Niwa vessel 'Kaharoa II'. Also unresolved was a question of whether the 'Manawanui' would remain on the sea floor which would depend on discussions with the Samoan Government. However, Collins suggested it was likely to remain in place. "The reality of actually taking it off the sea bed, where it's been sitting there now for quite some time, may be almost impossible, and could possibly bring other issues to bear that are even more dangerous. But it might become part of a reef." Report with photos: https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360554576/sunken-manawanui-will-not-be-replaced-collins-says

Bad weather affects fuel recovery

The removal of fuel from the HMNZS 'Manwanui' is likely to resume this week after it was halted due to bad weather last week. The recovery of fuel and other pollutants from thhe wreck was progressing with a quantity of fuel already removed. More than 100 tons were removed and brought to Apia over a week ago. It was initially estimated that the sunken vessel’s tanks had more than 900 tons of diesel. On Jan 13, due to deteriorating weather and sea conditions, the salvor moved the barge from above the 'Manawanui' to Apia to offload the recovered fuel and other pollutants held in the tank-tainers, Weather conditions in the harbour prevented safe operations and the tug and barge proceeded back out to sea to await more favourable weather and remained seeking shelter from the current weather system. Once offloaded, the tank-tainers will be securely stored at the port and then the fuel and other pollutants will be transferred to an agreed delivery point for processing and stowage whilst working through disposal processes. The Safety Buffer Zone around the site has remained in place, to protect the anchors and buoys, and to ensure the safety of people who might be on the water in the area. The NZDF dive team continued to monitor Manawanui and the surrounding area and support the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa sea water sample collection. There is no timeframe set for the removal of the fuel from the Manawanui.

Fuel recovery by hot tapping

After the barge 'Cronus' has been securely moored above the wreck of the 'Manawanui', the fuel recovery from the sunken ship has started on Jan 2, 2025. Before, salvage divers had started familiarising themselves with the ship and marking out fuel tanks ahead of the recovery of fuel and other pollutants by hot tapping to access the tanks and transfer the fuel and other pollutants onto the barge. Valves were to be installed on the ship’s hull before attaching a tap to make a hole through the hull to get to the internal tanks. Different types of fuel were on board the ship, with the largest amount being 950 tonnes of diesel. The tank contents will be pumped to the barge through a hose attached to a valve.The time of fuel recovery will depend on weather and sea conditions. The barge will periodically sail back to the port of Apia where fuel and other pollutants can be removed into shore-based stowage facilities.In another development, The Samoan government has reduced the precautionary zone affecting fishing on the south west coast, based on latest water testing results. Report with photos: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360538132/divers-begin-removing-fuel-and-other-pollutants-sunken-navy-ship-manawanui