After almost two months since the navy ship Manawanui sank on a Samoan reef, polluting fuel still remains on board, as reported by the Defence Force.
Although the exact amount of fuel left on the ship has not been disclosed, the NZDF mentioned that 340,000 litres of diesel and other pollutants were removed four weeks ago. Initially, it was estimated that a thousand tonnes of diesel, approximately a million litres, was on board.
According to Samoan officials, around 200,000 litres have leaked out from the sunken ship. The salvage operation has faced delays due to adverse weather conditions in January and more recently, causing the salvors to seek shelter and move their barge.
Group Captain Rob Shearer, head of Operation Resolution, stated that the ship’s position on the reef edge has exacerbated the salvage efforts. Despite repeated inquiries, Defence did not disclose the remaining amount of fuel on board.
“We continue to do everything we can to mitigate any possible impacts on the marine and coastal environment,” Shearer assured in a statement.
The salvage operation, now in its third cycle, was initially projected to take around 20 days, depending on weather conditions. The NZDF-contracted salvors are diligently working to locate and remove remaining diesel fuel, oil, and other pollutants from HMNZS Manawanui.
