Diesel Leaking From Sunken NZ Navy Ship Exposes Questions Over Suitability for Pacific Patrols

The HMNZS Manawanui is leaking diesel into the water off the coast of Samoa, and New Zealand says it will now try and remove fuel tanks from the wreck.

New Zealand Navy divers preparing to head out to area the HMNZS Manawanui now lies, off the Southern Coast of Upulo. New Zealand Defence Force

After initially denying the sunken HMNZS Manawanui was leaking oil, the New Zealand Navy has now confirmed that it is, and will attempt to remove the fuel tanks from what’s left of the ship on the sea floor off the coast of a Samoan island where it went down.

Samoa’s Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) said on the weekend that the vessel had leaked about 200,000 litres of diesel. About 900,000 litres of fuel was onboard the Manawanui when it sank.