Three high-ranking officers of the Royal New Zealand Navy, including the commanding officer, have been formally charged following the grounding of the HMNZS Manawanui on a reef off Samoa. The charges, made under the Armed Forces Discipline Act of 1971, cite navigational errors made on the night of October 5, 2024, that led to the vessel’s unfortunate grounding southwest of Tafitoala village on Upolu Island.
The officers charged are Commander Yvonne Gray, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Gajzago, and a third unnamed officer, all of whom will face a court martial in relation to the incident. Although they have yet to enter pleas, Commander Gray has signaled through her legal representation that she intends to defend the charges against her.
According to the charging documents, the watch officer at the time is accused of “negligently causing a ship to be lost.” The allegations indicate that the officers directed the Manawanui toward a known navigational hazard, approximately half a nautical mile ahead, while the ship was traveling at speeds exceeding four knots. They are also charged with failing to disengage the autopilot in a timely manner to take manual control, which may have prevented the grounding.
Lieutenant Commander Gajzago, who served as the command supervisor on the bridge during the incident, faces charges for “negligently permitting a ship to be lost,” failing to adequately supervise the third officer, and ensuring the vessel’s safety from the reef.
Commander Gray is facing two alternative charges regarding her conduct as the ship approached the hazard. One charge asserts that she negligently allowed the ship to be lost due to her absence from the bridge while within a nautical mile of the reef. The alternate charge contends that her failure to be present at her duty station contributed to the incident. She also faces an additional charge claiming that she did not implement a sufficient risk management plan for conducting hydrographic survey work in uncharted waters near the reefs south of Upolu.
The formal charges were approved for trial and submitted earlier today. The sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui is considered one of the most significant peacetime incidents in the contemporary history of the Royal New Zealand Navy, causing substantial embarrassment for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and leading to estimated costs of around $120 million (US$71 million), factoring in the loss of the ship and the subsequent cleanup efforts.
This development underscores the critical importance of navigational safety and operational oversight within naval operations. These charges may lead to significant repercussions and discussions about safety protocols in the Royal New Zealand Navy, potentially paving the way for improved measures and training to prevent future incidents.