Findings from a military investigation released on Friday revealed that the New Zealand Navy vessel which sank off the coast of Samoa in October after striking a reef went down due to the crew mistakenly leaving it in “autopilot” mode.
The “HMNZS Manawanui” collided with a reef and caught fire near the Samoan island of Upolu earlier in October. Fortunately, there were no casualties, as all 75 crew members were able to evacuate safely. The oceanographic vessel was conducting hydrographic surveys close to the shore under challenging conditions.
The military inquiry determined that the ship sank because the “autopilot had not been disengaged when it should have been.”
“The continued use of autopilot led the vessel to maintain its course toward land, ultimately causing it to run aground and sink.”
The crew recognized that they had strayed from their intended path and attempted to adjust their direction, mistakenly believing they had lost control of the ship due to a “propulsion control failure.” However, none of the sailors checked whether the autopilot had been disengaged.
Consequently, the vessel sank in 30 meters of water after striking the reef. It was carrying 950 tons of diesel, but the New Zealand Navy reports that the main fuel tanks appear to be intact, alleviating concerns about a potential oil spill. Rescue teams remain on site to initiate siphoning operations from the wrecked vessel.
