Vicious trolls have targeted the female New Zealand Navy captain whose $100million ship sank, forcing the countrys Defence Minister to blast the armchair admirals and publicly state the captains gender was not to blame.
HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand Navys specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, was conducting a reef survey offshore from the Samoan island of Upolus southern coast before it ran aground on Saturday.
The 75 crew and passengers on board had to abandon ship in lifeboats before they were hauled to safety in rough seas by Australian and Samoan rescuers.
HMS Manawanui, which is Maori for steadfast or big heart, burst into flames before it capsized and sank on Sunday at 9am.
It is the first occasion in peacetime that the New Zealand Navy has lost a ship and a Court of Inquiry has been launched to establish the cause of the incident.
But blame game soon began in the aftermath of the sinking, with many online trolls taking aim at Commander Yvonne Gray who has been in charge of the vessel since 2022 - her first ship command.
Commander Gray, originally from Yorkshire in the UK, moved to New Zealand in 2012 with her wife Sharon after falling in love with the country during a campervan holiday.
Allegedly homophobic and misogynist commentators leapt on Commander Grays identity to suggest she had been chosen to captain the navy vessel because of her gender and sexuality, rather than her qualifications.
HMNZS Manawanui (pictured), the Royal New Zealand Navys specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, was conducting a reef survey offshore from the Samoan island of Upolus southern coast before it ran aground on Saturday.
The blame game soon began in the aftermath of the sinking, with many online trolls taking aim at Commander Yvonne Gray (pictured) who has been in charge of the vessel since 2022 - her first ship command.
HMS Manawanui, which is Maori for steadfast or big heart burst into flames before it capsized and sank on Sunday morning at 9am. It is the first occasion in peace time that the New Zealand Navy has lost a ship
The commanding officer Commander Yvonne Gray was a DEI hire. Her qualifications: a woman and a lesbian, one X user wrote.
Another sarcastically commented that Commander Gray might stand alone in world history among all naval officers.
She sank 12 per cent of her countrys fleet in a day, without enemy engagement or storm. Diversity is our strength!, they added.
Another quipped: At least it sunk with pride.
John McLean, author of A History Of The Royal Navy In The Pacific, 1769-199, said the ships sinking raises the issue of whether the Navy is over-promoting women beyond their capacity in order to meet gender and sexual orientation goals.
But Judith Collins, New Zealands first female Defence Minister, dismissed the claims on Thursday, describing them as coming from armchair admirals.
People who will never have to make decisions which mean life or death for their subordinates, she added.
Online trolls leapt on Commander Grays identity to suggest she had been chosen to captain the $93million navy vessel because of her gender and sexuality, rather than her qualifications
A court of inquiry has been stood up to establish what caused this terrible incident, Ms Collins added.
The one thing that we already know did not cause it is the gender of the ships captain.
I thought seriously in 2024 what the hell is going on here with people who are sitting there in their armchair operating a keyboard making comments about people that they do not know, about an area they do not know and they are just vile.
Wheres a bit of decency?
She added women in uniform were being abused in the street following the incident.
This is outrageous behaviour and New Zealand is not known for this and we are better than it, she added.
In a press conference at the Devonport Naval Base on Sunday, Ms Collins said the fact that no one died was something of a triumph frankly, given the very, very difficult circumstances.
Holding back tears, she added: This could have been a truly terrible day.
Ms Collins suggested the ship had rung aground because it lost power but investigators are still working to establish an official cause of the sinking.
The criticism of Commander Gray came despite her three-decade-long career in both the British and New Zealand Navy.
She took the helm of helm of HMNZS Manawanui in 2022 after the then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a speech before releasing a bottle of champagne to wet the bow at the ships commissioning.
Commander Gray, who lists her pronouns as she/her on LinkedIn, said the ships sinking was when her very worst imagining became a reality.
She said that said her team responded in exactly the way I needed them to.
They acted with commitment, with comradeship and, above all, with courage, she said in a Defence Force statement on Tuesday night.
Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, said Commander Gray had made the right call to abandon the ship.
Judith Collins, New Zealands first female Defence Minister, (pictured) dismissed these claims on Thursday, describing them as coming from armchair admirals, people who will never have to make decisions which mean life or death for their subordinates
Online, family of the crew thanked local rescuers for returning all 75 crew members to Samoa
Samoan police and emergency crews reportedly worked with Australian Defence personnel to pull the vessels crew to safety
It’s a testament to her experience and skill as a commander, he said.
Vision from local media showed the $93million navy vessel tilting as the ship took on water as thick, black smoke clouded the sky above it.
Anti-submarine aircraft P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist in the rescue effort.
But rescuers battled the elements as tough currents and winds propelled life rafts and sea boats containing the 75 crew toward the reefs.
Tough swells only made the rescue efforts more challenging.
We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated rescue efforts, to the vessels which responded and took our crew and passengers from Manawanui to safety, NZ Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell said.
Commander Gray took the helm of helm of HMNZS Manawanui in 2022 after the then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a speech before releasing a bottle of champagne to wet the bow at the ships commissioning (pictured: Ms Ardern with her then partner Clarke Gayford and their 11-month-old daughter Neve at the official ceremony at Devonport Naval Base)
Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority said their rescue team worked through the night and into the morning to retrieve and treat HMNZS Manawanuis crew.
Fortunately, no-one was heavily injured and no lives were lost. Were proud to say we saved them, a spokesperson said.
Two crew members were later hospitalised - one with a dislocated shoulder, and the other with a hurt back.
Another dozen crew suffered minor cuts and soreness.