Sinking of HMNZS “Manawanui”, near Samoa

[GordMay]

Sinking of HMNZS “Manawanui” due to Human Error

The New Zealand naval ship, HMNZS “Manawanui”, which crashed into a Samoan coral reef, before it caught fire, and sank, on October 5/24, had been [inadvertantly] left on autopilot, according to preliminary findings, from a military court of inquiry. [1]
The report found that crew members had believed there were problems with the ship's thruster, when they could not change the vessel's direction. But, none of the crew had bothered to check, whether the ship was still on autopilot, before it crashed. It was.
All 75 people aboard were evacuated safely. But, the submerged ship started leaking oil into the ocean, prompting fears in nearby coastal villages. [2]

More about:
“New Zealand loses first naval ship to sea since WW2" ~ by Aleks Phillips, & Michael Bristow, for BBC [October 6, 2024]
➥ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced0wlqnvlno

[1] “Details from interim court of inquiry report into HMNZS Manawanui incident released” ~ by New Zealand Defence Force
➥ https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre...dent-released/

[2] “A sunken timebomb? Samoa fears long-lasting damage from wrecked New Zealand navy ship” ~ by Michelle Duff & Lanuola Tupufia, for The Guardian [October 18, 2024]
➥ https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...land-navy-ship

Updates on “Operation Resolution” - New Zealand Defence Force's response to the grounding and sinking of HMNZS “Manawanui”, near Samoa.
➥ https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre...anui-in-samoa/

➥ https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7rkoj...=m2cqqp1i&dl=0

[Orion Jim]

“But for the grace of God…”
We all make mistakes but if you are being propelled and unable to change course would it not be prudent to “stop” engines? You can then try to troubleshoot the cause without exacerbating the situation. Perhaps the results of the full inquiry will provide further insight.

[Fuss]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

“But for the grace of God…”
We all make mistakes but if you are being propelled and unable to change course would it not be prudent to “stop” engines? You can then try to troubleshoot the cause without exacerbating the situation. Perhaps the results of the full inquiry will provide further insight.

Probably no need…the New Zealand minister of defence Judith Collins knows exactly what happened and said so some weeks back.

[skipperpete]

I wonder if there’s anyone on this forum who CAN’T disengage the autopilot on their cruising yacht. This is reminiscent of the bridge confusion surrounding the USS McCain touch screen controls, all now removed and replaced by mechanical controls.

[hpeer]

Skipperpete,

That was my exact thought, so much similarity.

To disengage the AP strikes me as a reflexive action. I mean you either give the AP a command or you disengage and turn manually. No?

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by skipperpete

I wonder if there’s anyone on this forum who CAN’T disengage the autopilot on their cruising yacht. This is reminiscent of the bridge confusion surrounding the USS McCain touch screen controls, all now removed and replaced by mechanical controls.

Capt. Ray

[BlueH2Obound]

Originally Posted by Rucksta

Capt. Ray

Are you perhaps referencing Wreck 'em Ray McC******?
If so, than accident report would state "The ship is at fault for being on autopilot!"
or " It's God's fault for putting a reef there!"

[El Pinguino]

Not quite your bog standard bridge kit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNx5V4GmSdE&t=5s

I imagine it quite easy to get disorientated with this lot especially if you haven't spent a lot of time with it.

I once - when dealing with twin screw cdf variable pitch props - had them decide to go ahead rather than astern when backing into the berth once , the more I tried to get her to go astern the faster she went ahead, amazing how quickly things can turn to custard.

That was Kongsberg Maritime Systems gear. They had previously been known as Norcontrol but had become known in the trade as 'no control'.

I forget why it happened or maybe the plumbers never told me.

[hpeer]

This reminds me if the super yacht that hit the Antigua Yacht Club docks. Skipper claimed that he lost control of the controls. IIRC he used the thrusters to turn the gessle to limit damage. I have not seen any after action report.

[robbjd]

Competent bridge crews wouldn't be using autopilot in close proximity to a reef! That commanding officer will be sailing a desk from now on.