SIUMU, Samoa — Under a radiant morning sky in the small fishing village of Siumu, twelve men and children busily readied their boats for fishing. However, lurking underwater about a mile offshore is a sunken naval vessel from New Zealand that has forced these fishermen to venture farther out to sea for their catch than they did previously. Just hours prior, they had returned from a fishing trip the day before.
The village, decorated with both Samoan and British flags, is abuzz with activities in anticipation of the visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who are set to arrive for a biennial gathering of leaders from 56 Commonwealth nations. This occasion marks the first time a Pacific Island country has hosted such an event.
In the meantime, local and New Zealand officials have spent weeks assessing the coastline and mitigating the environmental impact caused by the recent sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, which ran aground, caught fire, and sank earlier this month. There were 75 crew members aboard the ship, all of whom were evacuated without injury.
Initial concerns over a significant fuel leak were alleviated when officials confirmed that oil had not leaked from the ship as it went down. Nevertheless, residents of Siumu and its neighboring areas express apprehension about the long-term effects on the reef and their livelihoods. “I don’t know when we will return to normal,” said Netina Malae, who has temporarily shut down her small resort in Tafitoala, where vibrant huts lining the shore remain unoccupied.
Efforts are underway to recover three shipping containers that sank with the vessel, including one filled with food. On Tuesday, New Zealand’s military aimed to tow the final empty and damaged container to shore, although adverse weather conditions jeopardized this plan. Fishermen in the area have reported increased travel times and costs as they are now compelled to fish in more distant waters. “We have to double our fuel expenditure to reach fishing grounds,” explained Faalogo Afereti Taliulu, stating that local authorities have advised against consuming seafood caught around the area of the wreck. “That’s a major concern for us financially.”
Taliulu and his fellow fishers primarily target tuna, which is essential to their community and industry. His cousin, Taula Fagatuai, emphasized that changing currents leave uncertainty about the safety of fish they catch away from the exclusion zone. There is also growing concern about the ongoing damage to the fragile marine environment due to the wreckage, including the vessel and shipping containers. “That boat is going to ruin our reef,” Fagatuai mentioned.
Some residents are calling for New Zealand to compensate them for lost income resulting from the incident, but a quick resolution seems unlikely. The cause of the sinking remains unclear, and an inquiry has been initiated to investigate the circumstances surrounding it.
Questions about fuel leakage from the ship persist as New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins stated last week that a minimal amount of diesel was escaping from the ship and quickly evaporating. She also noted that the total amount of fuel spilled was less than reported by Samoan authorities, with much of it being consumed in the fire. Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa assured reporters that there was “no evidence of any leaks” from the main fuel tanks of the vessel.
Despite this, the precise quantity of diesel that may have escaped during the sinking is undetermined, as Commodore Andrew Brown, representing New Zealand’s military in Samoa, revealed. He stressed the need to prioritize the removal of any remaining fuel from the wreck.
Currently, no plans are in place for recovering the ship itself. Brown indicated that they are actively observing the diesel sheen on the water’s surface and how it interacts with currents. Additionally, officials from both nations maintain that there is no noticeable damage to Samoa’s marine environment or its beaches; however, some villagers contest this, claiming to have encountered oil in the water and observed it contaminating local marine life and even people. “My children went surfing and returned saying they felt oil everywhere,” said Malae. “When I touched their skin, it was slippery with oil, so I know it’s there.”
This environmental crisis emerged as Samoa readied itself to host British royalty and other global leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Activities for civil society leaders are already underway, with an official launch scheduled for Friday. However, the uncertainty surrounding the impacts of the sunken vessel dampens tourism opportunities during this critical event. Malae, who typically organizes fishing or surfing tours, lamented, “Now, everything has come to a halt.”