By Michael Morrah
The captain of the Princess Ashika says the Tongan ferry was never seaworthy and was in a terrible state, but he went out to sea anyway on August 5 - the day it filled with water and sank killing 74 people.
Captain Maka Tuputupu also admitted he was aware that waves were smashing holes through the sides of the rusted vessel on every trip leading up the fifth and final deadly voyage.
He has spent the day being questioned about the vessel, before a Royal Commission of Inquiry in the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa.
The commission demanded to know why he went to sea in a ship he knew was dangerous.
The evidence against the captain included that he knew:
• The ship had more than 50 defects, some of which hadn’t been fixed before it first sailed on July 3.
• Waves had punched holes in the corroded side of the vessel on the first, second and third voyage.
• On the fourth voyage, his crew warned him that more than half a metre of water had flooded the cargo hold.
• The captain agreed the ship was “unsafe” and “unseaworthy” but set out on the fatal fifth occasion.
Mr Tuputupu told the commission that after his first trip on the Ashika he told his crew he never wanted to sail on the ship again.
He told his boss, shipping company chief executive John Jonesse, about the holes and was assured they would be fixed.
Mr Tuputupu said he felt bad about taking the vessel to sea, but said “it was his only hope for wages”.
It was not just the captain who made mistakes, the vessel was authorised to sail after a provisional survey was signed off by the acting director of Marine and Ports, Viliami Tu’ipulotu.
In staggering submissions Mr Tu’ipulotu admitted he wouldn’t let his own family use the ferry and that although the vessel was not seaworthy he signed a provisional survey saying it was.
Mr Tu’ipulotu told the commission he agreed that he failed in his duty to ensure that the Ashika, passengers and crew were safe before the vessel ever sailed.
He also admitted that he never told the former Transport Minister that he thought the ship was unsafe.
The commission will now take a fortnight's break
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