Trolls have attacked the New Zealand Navy’s female captain after a $100 million ship sank under her command, forcing the country’s defense minister to blast ‘armchair admirals’ and insist her gender was not to blame.
HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand The Navy’s specialized diving and hydrographic vessel was conducting a reef survey south of the Samoan island of Upolu when it ran aground on Saturday.
The 75 crew members and passengers had to leave the ship in lifeboats and were brought to safety by Australian and Samoan rescuers in rough seas.
HMS Manawanui, Maori for ‘steadfast’ or ‘great heart’, burst into flames at 9am on Sunday before capsizing and sinking.
It is the first time in peacetime that the New Zealand Navy has lost a ship and a court of inquiry has been set up to determine what went wrong.
Many online trolls have targeted Commander Yvonne Gray, who has been in charge of the ship since 2022 – her first ship command.
Commander Gray, originally from Yorkshire in the UK, moved to New Zealand with her wife Sharon in 2012 after falling in love with the country on a camper holiday.
The critics accused Commander Gray of being appointed to the role because of her gender and/or sexuality and not her qualifications.
HMNZS Manawanui (pictured), the Royal New Zealand Navy’s specialist diving and hydrographic vessel, was conducting a reef survey off the coast of the Samoan island of Upolu before it ran aground on Saturday.
The blame game quickly began in the wake of the sinking, with many online trolls taking aim at Commander Yvonne Gray (pictured), who has been in charge of the ship since 2022 – her first ship command.
HMS Manawanui, Maori for ‘steadfast’ or ‘great heart’, burst into flames at 9am on Sunday morning before capsizing and sinking. It is the first time in peacetime that the New Zealand Navy has lost a ship
“The commanding officer, Commander Yvonne Gray, was a DEI mercenary. Her qualifications: a woman and a lesbian,” one X user wrote.
Another sarcastically noted that Commander Gray “might stand alone in the history of the world among all naval officers.”
‘She sank 12 percent of her country’s fleet in a single day, without enemy involvement or storm. Diversity is our strength!’, they added.
Another joked: “At least my heart sank with pride.”
John McLean, author of A Mission of Honour: A History Of The Royal Navy In The Pacific 1769-1997, said the ship’s sinking “raises the question of whether the navy is over-promoting women beyond their capabilities to cater for gender and sexual needs. orientation goals’.
But Judith Collins, New Zealand’s first female defense minister, dismissed such claims on Thursday, describing them as coming from “armchair admirals”.
“People who never have to make life-or-death decisions for their subordinates,” she added.
Online trolls used Commander Gray’s identity to suggest she was chosen to pilot the $93 million Navy ship because of her gender and sexuality, rather than her qualifications
“An inquest has been set up to determine the cause of this terrible incident,” Ms Collins added.
“The only thing we already know that isn’t the cause is the gender of the ship’s captain.
‘Seriously, what is going on in 2024 with people sitting there in their armchair using a keyboard and making comments about people they don’t know, about an area they don’t know and who are just mean.
‘Where’s a little decency?’
She added that women in uniform had been abused in the streets after the sinking.
“This is outrageous behavior and New Zealand is not known for this and we are better than that,” she added.
Speaking at a press conference at Devonport Naval Base on Sunday, Ms Collins said the fact no one died was “quite frankly a triumph given the very, very difficult circumstances.”
Holding back tears, she added, “This could have been a truly horrible day.”
Ms Collins suggested the ship ran aground because it ‘lost power’, but investigators are still working to determine an official cause of the sinking.
The criticism of Commander Gray came despite her three-decade career in both the British and New Zealand navies.
She took the helm of HMNZS Manawanui in 2022 after then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a speech before releasing a bottle of champagne to wet the bow at the ship’s commissioning.
Commander Gray, who goes by her pronouns “she/her” on LinkedIn, said the ship’s sinking occurred when her “worst fantasy came true.”
She said her team responded “exactly the way I needed.”
“They acted with dedication, camaraderie and, above all, with courage,” she said in a Defense statement on Tuesday evening.
The head of the Navy, Admiral Garin Golding, said Commander Gray “made the right decision” to abandon ship.
Judith Collins, New Zealand’s first female defense minister, dismissed the claims on Thursday, describing them as coming from “armchair admirals, people who will never have to make life-or-death decisions for their subordinates.”
Online, the crew’s family thanked local rescuers for bringing all 75 crew members back to Samoa
Samoan police and emergency services reportedly worked with Australian defense personnel to get the ship’s crew to safety
“It’s a testament to her experience and skill as a commander,” he said.
A vision from local media showed the $93 million Navy ship overturning as the vessel took on water and thick black smoke clouded the sky above.
The anti-submarine aircraft P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
But rescuers faced strong currents and winds pushed life rafts and sea boats carrying the 75 crew members towards the reefs.
High swells only made rescue efforts more challenging.
“We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated the rescue efforts, to the ships that responded and brought our Manawanui crew and passengers to safety,” said NZ Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell.
Commander Gray took the helm of HMNZS Manawanui in 2022 after then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave a speech before unleashing a bottle of champagne to wet the bow at the ship’s commissioning (photo: Ms Ardern with her then partner Clarke Gayford and their 11-month-old daughter Neve during the official ceremony at Devonport Naval Base)
The Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority said their rescue team worked through the night and into the morning to retrieve and treat the crew of HMNZS Manawanui.
‘Thankfully no one was seriously injured and no lives were lost. We are proud to have saved them,” a spokesperson said.
Two crew members were later hospitalized, one with a dislocated shoulder and the other with a sore back.
Another dozen crew members suffered minor cuts and pain.
