The recovery barge with attendant tugs at Samoa. Photo: NZDF
Ammunition and weapons have been successfully recovered from the sunken NZ Navy hydrographic ship Manawanui at Samoa.
In the latest media update, a NZ Defence Force spokesman for the recovery operation, Commodore Andrew Brown, says the work follows earlier recovery of fuel and other pollutants.
“The salvors are now recovering equipment, weapons, ammunition and some debris,” he says.
“After a brief visit to the Port of Apia to reconfigure the salvors’ barge, it’s back moored over Manawanui and they are making steady progress.”
Commodore Brown said divers and salvors cut their way into the ship to retrieve weapons and ammunition from secure compartments.
“We’ve been careful and thorough, checking serial numbers and taking photographic records to ensure every item is accounted for,” he says.
The NZDF is working with the Samoan Police Service to secure storage of the weapons and ammunition.
“Our specialist weapons and ammunitions advisors assessed that some of the ammunition has deteriorated from exposure to seawater,” Comm. Brown says.
“This is being safely disposed of with Samoan Police assistance.”
The rest of the ammunition, weapons, equipment and debris is being returned to New Zealand as salvors work to secure the wreck.
NEXT STEP
Comm. Brown says the Samoan and New Zealand governments are working on the next step even as an independent wreck assessment is carried out.
This assessment includes studies of the reef and marine environment around the ship.
“The Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa is continuing to maintain regular monitoring and they report the seawater and marine life in the area are clear and uncontaminated,” Comm. Brown says.
Over 300,000 litres of useable diesel fuel and 45,000 litres of other liquids like waste oil were recovered. The recovery operation required 284 dives, the NZDF says, with 55 tanks checked.
“The recovery efforts will take time and naturally be affected by sea and weather conditions as we have experienced,” said Comm. Brown.
The Manawanui ran aground near the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa, in early October 2024 during a reef survey.
All 78 crew and personnel onboard were safely evacuated.
