The incident, considered one of the most serious in the Navy’s recent history, has led to a wide-ranging review of procedures, training, and leadership within the force.
The vessel, carrying 75 personnel, was grounded on October 5, 2024, during a hydrographic survey near a reef. It sank the following day.
The investigation, led by Commodore Melissa Ross, found that the ship maintained a heading toward land and that there was confusion regarding the autopilot mode. The crew attempted to adjust the course using the ship’s azimuth thrusters, but these actions were ineffective because the vessel was still on autopilot. A misjudgment followed, with the thruster issue mistakenly seen as a mechanical failure, and emergency protocols—which required switching to manual control—were not followed.
The report identified 12 contributing factors, including insufficient training and qualifications of key personnel, poor hydrographic planning, lack of supervision, procedural shortcomings, and leadership issues. One major concern was that the ship’s Commanding Officer was not platform endorsed for Manawanui, as required by the New Zealand Manual of Navigation.
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding accepted the findings, acknowledging a clear disconnect between procedures as written and how they were carried out in practice.
As a response, the Navy has already begun implementing corrective actions. These include updated incident management protocols, enhanced risk management tools, and the formation of a dedicated project team to improve consistency and quality in operational planning.
The Navy also announced a broader transformation program to address systemic issues, including the lack of standardization across the fleet. Rear Admiral Golding emphasized the need to embrace technological change and improve operational delivery.
The Court of Inquiry made nine recommendations, focusing on:
· Risk management
· Procedural improvements
· Training and qualification standards
· Seaworthiness and platform endorsement
· Hydrographic capabilities
· Leadership development
The loss of HMNZS Manawanui has prompted a major internal review within the Royal New Zealand Navy, with a strong focus on improving safety, accountability, and performance across its operations.
