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The New Zealand Defence Force has announced it will remove three shipping containers which fell on a reef near the sinking Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Manawanui.
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The NZDF has engaged local contractor ARK Marine to remove the three shipping containers from the reef off the south-west coast of Upolu, near Samoa.
The three 10-foot containers will be floated and then towed to shore in an operation expected to take at least three days from 18 October (weather permitting). It’s understood two of the three containers are empty, while the third container is carrying around 3,000 kilograms of food.
The containers are not watertight and have sustained some structural damage and are being moved by tides and swell. Samoan government officials have been involved throughout the process and have approved the removal plan.
NZDF Senior National Representative Commodore Andrew Brown says this is still a complex operation.
“We have carefully considered a number of options for removing the containers. Especially, we are working hard to minimise the impact on the marine environment,” he said.
“Other considerations include the prevailing weather, weight of the containers, and potential biosecurity risks.
“While it is expected it will take three days for the removal of the containers, it may be that weather and sea conditions, or other considerations, mean that the timetable is not met. However, we are hopeful that the conditions will be such that all containers will be removed from the reef over coming days.”
The NZDF has confirmed that multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury has arrived in Apia harbour to support the government of Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The ship is also transporting equipment that can assist in the ongoing response.
The New Zealand Defence Force task group ashore and Maritime NZ have confirmed that so far, no pollution has been found on the shorelines, nor any deceased wildlife.
The NZDF continues to conduct daily beach surveys together with local authorities and have not found any evidence of pollution or fuel affecting the shoreline.
RNZAF uncrewed aerial vehicles have been assisting with shoreline surveys.
Diving continues with a focus on damage assessment and obtaining imagery to aid in the investigation and containment.
An RNZAF P-8A Poseidon and crew have conducted several surveillance flights to provide imagery and assessments of the site.
