HMNZS Manawanui sinking and fuel removal

The story so far

HMNZS Manawanui, a New Zealand navy vessel, sank on a coral reef off the south coast of Samoa in October.^{1, 18, 29 Nov 2024} An interim Court of Inquiry found that a series of human errors, including failing to turn off the autopilot, caused the vessel to run aground and sink.^{29 Nov 2024} The New Zealand Defence Force planned to extract diesel and other fuel and pollutants from the wreck, an operation that could take several months.^{1, 18 Nov 2024} Pacific 7 Limited and Bay Underwater Services NZ Ltd were contracted for the fuel removal.^{18 Nov 2024} The Chief of the Navy said a disciplinary process is expected to follow the inquiry's findings.^{29 Nov 2024}

Latest

The interim inquiry has found human error caused the sinking, and a disciplinary process is expected to follow.^{29 Nov 2024} Fuel removal, first expected in November, has been pushed back to December.^{1, 18 Nov 2024}

What's next

Removal of fuel and pollutants from the vessel is due to start in December.^{18 Nov 2024} A disciplinary process is expected to follow the inquiry's findings.^{29 Nov 2024}

Key moments

1. 1 Nov 2024Defence Force expects to begin extracting diesel from the sunken vessel this month.
2. 18 Nov 2024Fuel removal start pushed to December; two contractors named for the operation.
3. 29 Nov 2024Interim inquiry finds a series of human errors, including autopilot left on, caused the sinking.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.