$63 million Royal New Zealand Navy ship capsizes and sinks off Samoa

• A New Zealand naval ship caught fire and sank off Samoa; all those on board were rescued.
• The HMNZS Manawanui was conducting a hydrographic survey when it ran aground.
• The cause of the sinking is under investigation.

A New Zealand naval ship that cost around $63 million caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa.

The vessel, named HMNZS Manawanui, ran aground on Saturday evening, according to New Zealand's Defence Force (NZDF).

All 75 crew and passengers were evacuated at around 7:52 p.m. local time on Saturday.

The ship was conducting a hydrographic survey off the coast of the island of Upolu when the incident occurred.

Speaking at a press conference in Auckland, Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding said four liferafts and two small inflatable boats were used to evacuate passengers.

Golding said smoke was seen coming from the boat at 6:40 a.m. local time before it capsized at 9 a.m. and went "below the surface."

He said the NZDF was working with authorities to mitigate environmental impacts and help with salvaging operations.

Golding also praised the commanding officer's "swift decision to evacuate the ship," saying it likely "prevented the loss of life."

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J carrying carrying medical and welfare personnel has since left Auckland for Samoa, per the NZDF.

Built in 2003, the HMNZS Manawanui is a specialist dive and hydrographic ship, mostly used for coastal and harbor surveys, underwater explosive disposals, and search and recovery operations.

The New Zealand government said in 2018 that it would cost NZ$103 million (around $63 million) to buy and convert the ship, Radio New Zealand reported.

It entered service with the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2019.

Golding added that the passengers and crew would be flown back to New Zealand from Samoa on Sunday.

"We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated rescue efforts, to the vessels which responded and took our crew and passengers from Manawanui to safety," Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell said.

The New Zealand Defense Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, which was sent outside regular working hours.