The removal of fuel tanks from the sunken New Zealand navy ship HMNZS Manawanui could start as early as this week.

The tug and barge contracted by the New Zealand Defence have arrived in Apia and were berthed at the Matautu Wharf.

The HMNZS Manawanui struck a reef in October and sank off the South Coast of Upolu in the Safata District. The ship damaged more than 5000 square metres of the reef and has leaked thousands of litres of diesel into the sea. There are still 900,000 litres of diesel inside the tanks of the ship.

As a result of this, fishing for impacted villages in the district has been prohibited posing questions on the livelihood of many.

NZDF Senior National Representative for Operation Resolution, Commodore Andrew Brown said it was a key milestone in Operation Resolution with the arrival into Apia, Samoa, of the salvors’ tug and barge contracted by NZDF to remove the fuel and other pollutants from HMNZS Manawanui.

On board, the barge is the equipment required for the fuel removal including workboats, pumping gear, diving equipment, mooring and anchoring systems, and the ‘tank-tainers’ required for the recovered fuel and other pollutants.

Over the next few days and once clearing customs, the salvors will be completing engineering configuration changes and equipment preparation in the port in Apia. This work is essential to the removal process and once completed the barge will be towed to the location of the HMNZS Manawanui on the south west coast.

Simultaneous to the barge work, the salvors will survey to confirm locations for the barge’s anchoring installations.

“The underwater anchoring installations are critical to this phase of the operation. They must be able to secure the barge in place over Manawanui in a range of sea states during the fuel removal process while at the same time ensuring the reef and seabed are protected,” said Commodore Brown.

Once the barge is in place and site and equipment preparations are complete, work will commence on the fuel removal.

“This response is complex and technical, and we must do a careful and thorough job. How long things take will be very dependent on factors such as weather and sea conditions,” said Commodore Brown.

“As we move into this next phase of the operation, the focus is on enabling the fuel removal process, continuing technical monitoring, surveillance and continuing to do everything we can to mitigate any possible impacts on the environment.

“Our people working on the ground and our Navy dive team (from HMNZS Matataua) have specific skillsets aligned with this phase of the operation.

“We know how important the coastal and marine environments are to the people of Samoa, especially those on the southwest coast of Upolu. This is why the removal of fuel and other pollutants from the Manawanui is so important.

“While the recovery efforts will take time, New Zealand is committed to doing the right thing and will continue to provide regular updates on the progress we’re making.”