New Zealand Expresses Gratitude to Royal Navy for Support in Response to HMNZS Manawanui Sinking

New Zealand has extended its heartfelt thanks to the Royal Navy for their swift and critical assistance following the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, a survey and support ship that ran aground off the coast of Samoa earlier this month.

The HMNZS Manawanui encountered trouble on October 5 while conducting a mapping mission near a reef. After running aground, the vessel capsized and sank. Fortunately, all crew members were safely evacuated before the ship went down.

Upon receiving the distress call, HMS Tamar, which had just departed Fiji for a patrol aimed at curbing illegal fishing in the region, immediately changed course and headed towards Samoa. Within just a minute of the alert, the ship was en route. HMS Tamar covered a distance of 650 miles in challenging weather conditions, arriving 23 hours later, only to learn that the Manawanui had already sunk.

Despite the tragic loss of the vessel, HMS Tamar’s role remained vital. The British warship provided essential support in safeguarding the wreck site, preventing unauthorized access, and assisting the New Zealand authorities in recovering official materials, equipment, and personal items from the surrounding waters.

Commodore Andrew Brown, the deputy head of the Royal New Zealand Navy, who is currently overseeing the recovery operations in Samoa, personally visited HMS Tamar to convey New Zealand’s gratitude to Commander Tom Gell and his crew. His visit underscored the strong partnership between the Royal Navy and New Zealand’s naval forces.

For the crew of HMS Tamar, this operation holds particular significance. The British sailors had recently worked alongside the Manawanui’s crew earlier in the year and were welcomed with a traditional pōwhiri, a Maori greeting ceremony, during a visit to New Zealand's naval base in Devonport just last month.

The strong ties between the Royal Navy and New Zealand were on full display during this coordinated effort, and New Zealand's appreciation for the Royal Navy’s rapid and effective response in a time of crisis has been made abundantly clear.

This operation highlights the enduring relationship between the two nations’ naval forces, while also reinforcing the critical importance of international cooperation in times of emergency.