Samoa’s deputy prime minister says there's no evidence of a major fuel spill on a Samoan reef after a New Zealand navy ship sank.

The New Zealand navy has lost its first ship since World War II after the HMNZS Manawanui sank on a reef off the coast of Samoa,

Containing any oil spill from a fuel-laden New Zealand navy ship sunk on Sunday just off-shore from Samoa’s most populated island has been declared a priority by both governments. All 75 personnel aboard the HMNZS Manawanui were rescued after it ran aground on Saturday night before it caught fire and sank the next morning.

New Zealand will hold a court of inquiry into the loss of the ship, which was one of nine in its navy. The cause of the disaster is not known.

Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic dive and survey ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09) sank on Sunday after running aground off the southern coast of the island of Upolu, Samoa. The ship ran aground on Saturday evening while on a survey mission in the area.

New Zealand’s Navy lost its first ship since World War II after the HMNZS Manawanui sank on a reef off the coast of Samoa on Sunday creating a potential environmental disaster in waters used for fishing and tourism.

Samoa on Tuesday said it had detected and contained "small leakages" from a New Zealand navy vessel wrecked on a reef while carting almost 1,000 tonnes of diesel.

A New Zealand Navy ship has sunk off the coast of Samoa - the first time they have lost a ship since World War Two - with the Defence Force working to “minimise the environmental impacts”. HMNZS Manawanui was conducting a tropical reef survey when it came into trouble approximately one nautical mile from the island of Upolu on Saturday night,

An investigation is underway after a Royal New Zealand Navy ship ran aground and sank off Samoa while conducting a reef survey. The Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Manawanui grounded near the southern coast of Upolu,