The HMNZS Manawanui, aground in Samoa. Photo: Profile Boats / supplied
Work to prevent widespread pollution from the sunken navy vessel Manawanui in Samoa will be scaled down during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week.
However, efforts to recover three containers from the ship that had ended up on the reef in the waters south of Upolu were due to get underway on Saturday, weather permitting.
Two were empty and the other one had about three tonnes of food inside, the New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement.
"They are moving with tides and swells and they pose an environmental risk."
They would be floated and towed to shore.
The containers would then be lifted onto a truck and taken to a secure site for disposal, the Defence Force said.
"The work, which has been approved by Samoan government officials, is dependent on the weather and sea conditions and could take at least three days."
Samoa's prime minister said dive and coastal operations around the Manawanui would be on hold from Monday until next weekend.
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