New Zealand Navy Ship Incident Highlights Gaps in Training and Autopilot Misunderstandings

The Royal New Zealand Navy has just published it’s final report on the unfortunate sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, which occurred off the coast of Samoa in October 2024. This incident involved a crew of 75 adn took place while the ship was conducting a hydrographic survey on October 5, ultimately leading to its grounding and subsequent sinking the next day.

Commodore Melissa Ross led the inquiry that uncovered several key issues. The primary factors included the vessel’s trajectory towards land and confusion regarding its autopilot settings. In an attempt to steer away from danger, crew members tried using azimuth thruster controls without realizing that autopilot was still engaged, making their efforts futile.

The report also pointed out that there was a misjudgment regarding thruster control failure and a failure to follow emergency protocols—specifically, switching from autopilot to manual operation when things went awry. “We found significant gaps in training for essential personnel,” noted the report. It emphasized that risks associated with their survey mission were not adequately recognized or addressed.

Interestingly, it came to light that the Commanding Officer lacked proper endorsement for operating this specific vessel—a requirement outlined in New Zealand’s navigation guidelines. Rear Admiral Garin Golding expressed concern over what he termed a “disconnect between expected operations and actual practices.”

In response to these findings, corrective actions have already been initiated by the Navy. They are revisiting risk management strategies and enhancing training programs across various levels of operation. “We’ve revamped our critical incident management processes and established a dedicated team focused on ensuring our plans are both effective and consistent,” said Rear Admiral Golding.

The investigation revealed twelve contributing factors behind this tragedy: deficiencies in training, poor military hydrographic planning, procedural lapses, inadequate supervision, and leadership shortcomings all played roles in this incident.

Looking ahead, plans for an extensive conversion initiative have been announced by the Navy aimed at addressing these systemic challenges—including standardizing practices across their fleet. “We need essential changes; adapting to new technologies is crucial as we strive to meet expectations,” explained rear Admiral Golding.

Nine recommendations emerged from this inquiry focusing on improving risk management practices, refining procedures for operations at sea, enhancing training standards for personnel involved in hydrographic tasks among other areas.This event marks one of the most significant losses faced by the Royal New Zealand Navy recently—prompting serious reflection on operational protocols throughout their fleet moving forward. For those interested in diving deeper into these findings or keeping up with maritime developments like this one can subscribe here!