SCP foreman feared the Ashika may sink [1]
Sunday, November 1, 2009 - 16:53. Updated on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 17:42.
The advanced level of corrosion and rust on the MV Princess Ashika was a serious concern for Sateki Tupou, whenever the ferry left port, the foreman and the workshop supervisor of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., told the Commission of Inquiry Day Four on Friday, October 30.
Sateki was the third witness to reaffirm the poor and unfit condition of the MV Princess Ashika. The workshop foreman fully agreed with a suggestion by Assistant Counsel to the Commission, Manuel Varitimos, that his concern over the poor condition that the Princess Ashika was in, because the vessel could sink.
Sateki highlighted in his testimony the extensive corrosion and rust on the floor of the cargo deck, he estimated that 95 percent of the floor was corroded, and in some floor area it was only 2mm thin, "making it very easy to test the level of corrosion by using a hammer to chip through a hole.
"Any person who have walked through this would have noticed the heavy corrosion," he said.
He said that the surrounding walls of the cargo deck were also extensively corroded with small holes where one could see from inside to the outside. "The outside of the passenger deck was also corroded although it was freshly painted over.
Heavily corroded
"Similar corrosion was evident in the wheelhouse and the vessel's railings from the top to bottom had missing parts. The cradle, which held the life raft, was also corroded and I was particularly concerned that it could break off if the vessel sailed on rough seas," he added.
The witness, who submitted to the inquiry a Diary Entry with a summary of the repair works that had been done to the Ashika, said the vessel was so heavily corroded, "it was difficult to determine where to begin with the repairs."
Holes
Sateki said that welders regularly carried out repair work on the Ashika from July 2 to August 5 and one of the major repair works they did was to replace both sides of the vessel because they were highly corroded and he was very concerned that a wave could just punch a big hole on the side of the ferry. "All scuppers on the vessel did not perform their duties, some scuppers left holes where one could see down to the ocean."
He said when the Ashika left on its final voyage on August 5 they had replaced part of the sides of the vessel with metal sheets but it was not completed as only a small percentage of the repairs was done.
When Sateki was asked to compare the condition of the old Olovaha to that of the Ashika, the witness said that although the Olovaha had mechanical and engine problems with some rust and corrosion, "the advanced level of rust and corrosion on the Ashika was incomparable to that of the Olovaha, and it was just unfit."
Sateki said that when he saw the vessel arriving in Nuku'alofa on July 1, he noticed notice straight away its poor condition.
Sateki also confirmed with the Commission that SCP Managing Director John Jonesse went to Samoa and then to Fiji to look for a replacement vessel for the old Olovaha. When he returned he said he had found a vessel in Fiji but he did not give any detailed information on its condition.
The inquiry will continues next week.