Earlier this month, the New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui ran aground, caught fire and sank off the south coast of Upolu in Sāmoa while conducting a reef survey. The ship is leaking oil from at least four locations, and authorities in Sāmoa say 200,000 litres of diesel has leaked from the HMNZS Manawanui since it sank on a reef last week.
First of all, they refused to accept the ship was not leaking oil, but now they admit the fuel is leaking, estimating that 900,000 litres of fuel is on board, but maintains that it is ‘probable that the amount of fuel leaked is less than 200,000 litres.’