No interim findings in Tonga ferry inquiry
Updated
Tonga's Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika has decided not to hand down preliminary findings on the disaster.
In August the inter island ferry sank near the Hai'pai island group, taking over 70 lives. Since October, a Royal Commission of Inquiry has been investigating the disaster, trying to find out what happened, and why there was such a large loss of life. Its report is to be finalised by April next year.
Over the weekend the Commission released its interim report, but decided not to provide any interim findings.
Presenter: Campbell Cooney, Pacific Correspondent
Speakers: various voices
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COONEY: The interim report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan inter-island ferry, MV Princess Ashika is 47 pages long and printed in English and Tongan. But when it comes to a preliminary finding, the three royal commissioners, Chairman Justice Warwick Andrew, naval architect, Richard James and master mariner, Michael Hanfield, have reserved judgement. The reports statement reads.
STATEMENT: The commissioners having heard submissions from council for various parties agree that would be inappropriate at this juncture to make any preliminary findings on any of the terms of reference as to do so would be premature.
COONEY: And it says before any finding is handed down.
STATEMENT: The Commission will need to hear from many more witnesses and consider other evidence, including documentary, to enable it to comprehensively and definitively report.
COONEY: But the interim report does lay out the progress of the Commission over the 17 days of sittings held up till the 19th November.
It's heard from 48 witnesses. Six of them are survivors of the August sinking of the ferry. 7 crew members, including the ship's master have been before the Commission, which has also heard from maintenance staff and maritime experts who have given evidence critical of the state of the ferry prior to the sinking.
Also appearing were a number of executives and board members from the ferry's operator, the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, including the then managing director, John Jonesse. Mr. Jonesse gave evidence over five days. That would have continued, but mid-sitting, council representing the corporation informed the Commission, Mr Jonesse had been suspended and would need his own representation.
Mr Jonesa has been stood down by the Commission, but will make another appearance before proceedings are finalised.
The owners of the Shipping Corporation and therefore the owners of the ferry, the Tongan Government, have also appeared with a number of senior bureaucrats on the witness list and also the Minister of Transport at the time of the disaster, Paul Karalus. Mr Karalus stood down from office soon after the disaster.
Amongst the 120 pieces of evidence presented to the Commission are emails, a copy of the survey of the MV Princess Ashika dated 2nd July, 2009, and photos of the ferry.
Currently the Royal Commission is in recess until next week. The final report is expected at the end of March next year.
