COLUMN | Uncertainty and the God of small deals: tariffs up, stocks down, oil down, but ship by ship deals continue in offshore [Offshore Accounts]

Background reading – the New Zealand court of enquiry

We love to stretch a good metaphor. So, when you read the New Zealand court of enquiry report into the circumstances that resulted in the loss of the survey ship HMNZS Manawanui off Upolu, Samoa, on October 6, 2024, it is hard not to draw parallels with American policymaking with the ship of state commanded from Washington DC:

"Attempts by the ship’s bridge staff to alter the course to starboard had no appreciable effect. Shortly after, as the ship left the approved survey area and in an effort to stop the ship, control orders were made that the officer on watch believed would have resulted in the ship applying full power astern.

"These control orders did not result in the ship stopping, rather the ship started to accelerate, maintaining an approximate heading of 340° towards the reef. The ship grounded for the first time at or about 18:17:59 at a speed of around 10.7 knots.