New Zealand to Pay $3.5M Compensation to Samoa after 2024 Navy Ship Sinking

New Zealand will pay Samoa $3.5 million (10 million tala) in compensation after a Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessel sank off Samoa’s southern coast in October 2024.

The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic ship, ran aground during a reef survey near southern Upolu last year. The vessel later capsized and sank, though all 75 crew were safely rescued.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement that the payment was made following a request from the Government of Samoa and recognizes “the impact the sinking has had on local communities and the disruption it caused.”

Although the Manawanui remains on the reef, authorities confirmed that fuel, oil, weapons, ammunition, and containers have been removed to avoid environmental damage. Peters said Wellington continues to work closely with Apia, with “absolute priorities” being to minimize ecological harm and support recovery efforts.

A government inquiry released in April found that the incident resulted from a combination of human and procedural failures. The final court of inquiry report cited inadequate training, poor supervision, and leadership lapses, stating that the crew “did not identify risks related to the survey task.”

At the time of the grounding, the ship’s commanding officer, Commander Yvonne Gray, a former Royal Navy officer, ordered an immediate evacuation after the vessel caught fire and began tilting strongly to one side. Twelve hours later, the Manawanui was entirely submerged.

Commander Gray, originally from Harrogate, Yorkshire, took command of the RNZN’s dive, hydrographic, and salvage vessel in December 2022.