Inquiry Reveals Autopilot Error Led to NZ Navy Ship Sinking
TL;DR
A New Zealand navy vessel, HMNZS Manawanui, sank after hitting a reef off Samoa due to a series of human errors, including failing to disengage autopilot. The crew misidentified the issue as a thruster control failure, leading the ship to accelerate towards the reef. All 75 crew members were rescued, and a separate disciplinary process will follow the court's findings. The ship was carrying 950 tons of diesel, with salvage operations planned to retrieve the fuel.
- NZ navy vessel sank due to 'autopilot' error — inquiry DW (English)
- Crew mistakes caused the sinking of a New Zealand navy ship off Samoan coast, inquiry finds The Associated Press
- New Zealand navy ship sank off Samoa because autopilot was left on, inquiry finds The Guardian
- New Zealand Navy ship sank due to human error, inquiry finds Reuters
- New Zealand navy ship hit reef and sank because crew mistakenly left it on "autopilot," inquiry finds CBS News
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Read on DW (English)