Inquiry told Tongan ferry unseaworthy

The deficiency list and photos of the ill-fated ferry Princess Ashika clearly showed that the vessel was unseaworthy, a witness told a Tongan Royal Commission of Inquiry in Nuku'alofa yesterday.

Captain John Hogan, manager of the Regional Maritime Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), was testifying before the inquiry into the sinking of the vessel Ashika.

Seventy-four people died when the Princess Ashika suddenly sank late on the night of August 5 last year off the coast of Nuku'alofa.

Capt Hogan, who has an extensive maritime experience in the region, was questioned by the assisting counsel to the commission, Manuel Varitimos, and shown the deficiency list including photographs of the sunken Ashika.

Matangi Tonga website reported Mr Varitimos suggested that by seeing deficiency list it was clear that the vessel was unseaworthy, and Capt Hogan agreed. He also agreed that photos also demonstrated the vessel as unseaworthy.

He also agreed that it was incomprehensible that the Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu on July 2, 2009, after signing an extensive deficiency list for the Princess Ashika certified it was seaworthy.

Capt Hogan said he had read the transcripts of the hearing and he knew there were no lifejackets given to passengers on the Princess Ashika. At the same time he agreed that as part of good governance that due diligence should have been conducted prior to the purchase of the vessel.

He said that if they were asked for surveyors, SPC would have provided a number of competent surveyors to survey the Princess Ashika.