New Zealand’s Lesbian Navy Captain Loses $100M Naval Ship in Peacetime Disaster – Ship Runs Aground, Catches Fire, and Sinks, Unleashing Oil Spill off Samoa Coast

"New Zealand’s navy has suffered its first peacetime ship loss since World War II when the $100 million multi-role support vessel HMNZS Manawanui ran aground off the southern coast of Upolu Island, Samoa, caught fire and eventually sank—triggering an environmental disaster in the process. Videos and photos published by local media showed the Manawanui listing

heavily and on fire with plumes of thick grey smoke rising after it ran aground. By 9 a.m. local time, the vessel had capsized and was “now submerged” after sinking beneath the surface.... injuries were minimal: two individuals were sent to the hospital—one for a dislocated shoulder and another for a back injury—while 12 to 15 others suffered minor cuts and abrasions. Commander Gray, formerly a teacher from Yorkshire, England, took command of the vessel just last year. Her appointment marked another milestone in the Navy’s diversity agenda, but critics argue that such priorities may have overshadowed critical operational readiness.
With all 75 passengers and crew evacuated, the vessel’s loss brings fresh scrutiny to the leadership under its openly lesbian commanding officer, Commander Yvonne Gray.
The Manawanui, originally built in Norway and repurposed for New Zealand’s Royal Navy with a substantial $103 million investment, was conducting a seabed survey mission when it hit a reef, according to maritime news outlet gCaptain. Another consequence of DEI hiring initiatives?" Gateway