By Susana Lei'ataua in Apia, Samoa
The NZDF base off Upolo, near where the Manawanui sank. Photo: RNZ / Louise Ternouth
An insurance surveyor has completed their work on the HMNZS Manawanui, which sank two weeks ago off the south coast of Upolo, Samoa.
Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee said a contractor would now be selected to remove the remaining fuel from the vessel.
The New Zealand Navy ship was carrying 950 tonnes -- the equivalent of 950,000 litres - of fuel when it ran aground on the Tafitoala Reef on 6 October and sank the following day.
Committee chair Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said salvaging the fuel was expected to start in mid-November and take about 20 days, depending on the weather.
The committee reported up to 200,000 litres of diesel leaked from three places on the ship in the first week after it sank.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force said Kiwi and Samoan teams had worked from early Saturday late into the night to salvage an empty shipping container that came off the Manawanui.
"This is challenging work, and yesterday the teams did a great job," NZDF senior national representative Commodore Andrew Brown said.
"We are continuing with the container removal over the next few days, making sure that we are keeping people safe and with the protection of the environment in mind."
Two other shipping containers came off the Manawanui when it sank. One was empty and one was carrying 3000kg of food.
Brown said they would be floated, then towed to shore over the coming days.
However, other salvage efforts around the Manawanui were being scaled back during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa, which would get into full swing on Monday.