Dozens of crew from a Kiwi naval vessel had to be whisked to safety by Australian and Samoan rescuers after their ship grounded on a reef they were surveying.
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 vessel later capsized and was completely submerged by Sunday morning.
Vision published by local media showed the $93million navy vessel tilting as the ship took on water as thick, black smoke clouded the sky above it.
Several vessels assisted in immediate rescue efforts and collected crew and passengers who had left the ship in lifeboats
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.
HMNZS Manawanui ran aground off the south coast of the Samoan island of Upolu on Saturday
Samoan police and emergency crews reportedly worked with Australian Defence personnel to pull the vessels crew to safety
Crews worked over Saturday night, battling fierce winds and currents, to bring the ships crew to shore
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
A Lockheed Martin Super Hercules aircraft also left Base Auckland carrying medical and welfare personnel, as well as light clean-up equipment. The NZ Royal Navy said theyre planning further flights, but none are confirmed.
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.
NZs Chief of Navy said shes keen to know the exact reason the $98million vessel sunk
The Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services Maritime Unit collaborated with the Emergency Service Authority and Australian Defence personnel and the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand in the operations.
All 75 crew members on board the Manawanui were safely evacuated and are accounted for, with emergency personnel confirming that all crew members are safe and receiving medical attention, the Polices maritime unit said.
At this stage, the exact cause of the grounding is unknown and will be the subject of further investigation.
The Navy currently understands the following to have been the basic timeline of the incident: at 6.40am Sunday, the ship was listing heavily and smoke was visible from the ship. At 9.00am it was known to have capsized and was below the surface.
The NZDF is reportedly working with authorities to understand the implications and minimise the environmental impacts.
Support is being provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Samoan authorities to the crew and passengers from Manawanui and they are being accommodated in Samoa, the navy said in a statement.
The NZDF will be sending aircraft to Samoa to bring them back to New Zealand.
Online, family of the crew thanked local rescuers for returning all 75 crew members to Samoa
The exact cause of the ships grounding is still unknown but the New Zealand Defence Force will investigate the incident
Arohanui: Loved ones of those rescued from life boats thanked local emergency services online
Relieved families of rescued crew members took to social media to thank those involving in returning the men and women on HMNZS Manawanui to safety.
Thank you for all youve done by ensuring my husband and his fellow sailors are able to come home! May our heavenly Father bless you and your families, one seamans wife wrote.
Another one added: Thank you for rescuing our women and men. So glad to know my daughter-in-law is safe and her shipmates. Arohanui.
New Zealands Defence Minister, Judith Collins, said the grounding had been really challenging for everybody on board.
I know that what has happened is going to take quite a bit of time to process, she told a press conference, according to Reuters.
I look forward to pinpointing the cause so that we can learn from it and avoid a repeat, she said of the $93million vessel.