New Zealand’s navy has experienced its first peacetime ship loss since World War II, after the $100 million multi-role support vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, ran aground off the southern coast of Upolu Island in Samoa. The ship caught fire and eventually sank, triggering an environmental disaster in the area.
All 75 passengers and crew, including sailors, civilian scientists, and foreign personnel, were safely evacuated. The incident, however, has brought renewed scrutiny to the leadership of Commander Yvonne Gray, the ship’s openly lesbian commanding officer.
Originally built in Norway and later repurposed for New Zealand’s Royal Navy with a $103 million investment, the Manawanui was conducting a seabed survey mission when it struck a reef, according to maritime news outlet gCaptain. The evacuation, which took place at night in perilous conditions, saw the crew abandoning ship amid rough seas. Life rafts were tossed into the water, and several crew members had to fight strong currents to reach safety.
Three crew members were injured during the evacuation, with one suffering a dislocated shoulder and another a back injury. The Samoan Fire and Emergency Services responded to assist the crew as the vessel sank beneath the waves.
Videos and photos showed the Manawanui listing heavily and engulfed in thick smoke before it capsized and sank by 9 a.m. local time, according to Reuters. The New Zealand Defence Force has stated that the cause of the grounding remains unknown and will be the subject of an investigation. The ship was on its third deployment to the South West Pacific this year, with planned stops in the Kermadec Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, and Niue. The Manawanui was scheduled to return to New Zealand by November 1st.
Commander Yvonne Gray, a former teacher from Yorkshire, England, took command of the Manawanui just last year, marking a milestone in the Navy’s diversity initiatives. While she has been praised by officials for her swift actions during the emergency, the incident has sparked debate about whether diversity priorities have impacted the Navy’s operational standards. Critics have questioned whether more could have been done to prevent the loss of one of only five fully operational ships in the Royal New Zealand Navy’s underfunded fleet.
Maritime Component Commander Commodore Garin Golding praised the evacuation effort, calling it a “complex and difficult task,” particularly at night. The crew began abandoning ship at 7:52 p.m., facing strong winds and dangerous swells as they deployed lifeboats. The first sailor was rescued at 1 a.m., and the last at 5:30 a.m. Some personnel had to wade to shore after their life raft capsized on a reef.
Commander Gray, who moved to New Zealand in 2012 with her wife after a campervan holiday, has had a long career in naval service, having previously served in the Royal Navy before joining the Royal New Zealand Navy. This was her first command of a naval vessel.
While her leadership during the evacuation has been commended, the incident has raised questions about the balance between the Navy’s commitment to diversity and its operational readiness.