Captain Doug Monks from New Zealand's Transport Accident
Investigation Commission is soon to deliver an interim report
on the sinking of the Tongan ferry, Princess Ashika.
His report will be presented in two weeks to the Tongan Royal
Commission investigating the sinking, ABC Radio reported.
Capt Monks said a more detailed report will be published in
February.
"We've interviewed well over 50 people going into 80 or 90
hours of interviews, we're still processing those
interviews," he said.
A total of 72 people died when the ferry sank at midnight on
August 5.
So far, 10 people have appeared before the commission, which
started this week.
About 30 people, mostly friends and relatives of the victims,
along with media, have been attending the hearings.
The Princess Ashika's captain is yet to appear before the
commission.
Evidence already presented has included damning photographs
of the poor condition of the vessel.
A government marine engineer, Mosese Fakatou, showed 37
photos of the ferry which revealed massive holes, heavily
corroded sides and floor and blocked vents that stopped water
running off decks.
"There was a photo of a hole on the cargo deck, where one
could see down to the ocean," the Matangi Tonga newspaper
reported.
"Mosese pointed out that a wide area near the hole was also
heavily corroded. He said he had to walk carefully on the
whole floor area because he could have fallen through it."
Mr Fakatou, who inspected the MV Princess Ashika to establish
seaworthiness the day it set sail on its final voyage, also
took photos of worn safety rails and ropes and the entrance
gate.
There was also evidence that heavily corroded areas of the
boat had been freshly painted over.
That backs up widely-held suspicions among Tongans that the
boat, bought from Fiji just six weeks before the tragedy, was
not fit for use.
The commission will look at whether any criminal act
contributed to the disaster, and whether there's evidence of
civil responsibility.
It will hand down a final report at the end of March 2010.
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