HMNZS Manawanui sinking: New Zealand and Samoan crews salvage empty shipping container from nearby reefs

“We will continue the removal of containers over the coming days, ensuring the safety of people and keeping the protection of the environment in mind.”

The three 10-foot (3 m) containers are floated and then towed to shore.

Brown said the work was being carried out under the direct supervision of Samoan authorities.

This week, activity would be reduced to avoid disrupting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), but container removal and monitoring of the ship and coastline would continue, he said.

The Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar has recovered the Manawanui’s navigation logbook, which could become a crucial piece of evidence in the official investigation.

The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist survey and diving vessel, struck a reef on the evening of Saturday October 5.

It began to list and Commander Yvonne Gray gave the order to abandon ship. A fire broke out in the engine room and the $100 million ship sank on Sunday morning, off the southern coast of the Samoan island of Upolu.

The Manawanui was carrying almost 1,000 tonnes of diesel when it sank. Navy chief Rear Adm. Garin Golding told a news conference a week ago that the main fuel tanks were intact.

In the days after the sinking, images from Samoa showed a sea turtle struggling in an oil spill near the wreck site.

Fishermen from the local village and a tour operator reported seeing oil slicks near the reef and surrounding areas, where the Manawanui now lies on its side in about 30 meters of water.

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