SAMOA has stepped up security around the sunken HMNZS Manawanui after reports of unauthorised diving and break-ins.
The Royal New Zealand Navy ship sank off the south coast of Upolu in October 2024 after hitting a reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of litres of diesel and oil into the ocean.
Three New Zealand naval officers now face a court martial, charged with negligently causing the loss of the ship.
The Samoan government has established a 300-metre safety zone around the wreck after the Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) declared the site dangerous.
MPAC Chair Fui Tupai Mau Simanu warned that divers risk becoming trapped in cables or inside the unstable wreck, while remaining lubricants in pipes could still leak into the ocean.
The restrictions are intended to protect divers, fishermen and small craft operating in the area.
Low-flying aircraft and drones are also banned within the zone, although commercial flights above 500 feet are not affected.
The measures align with international maritime safety guidelines and Samoa’s legal authority under the Shipping Act and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
New Zealand Defence Force response lead Captain Rodger Ward said signs of unauthorised activity were discovered during a recent survey.
He said only Samoa’s Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure can authorise diving within the restricted area.
A Royal New Zealand Navy team will travel to Samoa to conduct a detailed survey of the wreck and assist with recovery efforts.
Authorities say the safety zone will remain until the vessel is stabilised and pollution risks are fully addressed.
Source: RNZ Pacific