New Zealand is planning to reactivate one of its inactive offshore patrol vessels following the sinking of a specialized dive ship earlier this month, according to a defense spokesperson on Thursday.

The Manawanui, a dedicated hydrographic vessel, left the navy with only five operational ships after it sank while surveying a reef off the coast of Samoa. This occurred as three other vessels were placed in “care and custody” due to personnel shortages.

The defense force, along with its partners, is currently assessing the necessary work to bring an offshore patrol vessel back into service, the spokesperson informed Reuters. “This assessment is expected to be completed by the end of the month, which will help establish the timeline for the subsequent reactivation,” the spokesperson stated in an email.

The capability challenges faced by the New Zealand Defence Forces were highlighted last October when they indicated limitations in their capacity to respond to humanitarian crises in the Pacific during the cyclone season.