Master mariner told Jonesse that Ashika was unfit for Tongan waters [1]
Friday, January 15, 2010 - 18:45. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 21:54.
A Tongan Master Mariner who had seen pictures of the MV Princess Ashika in April 2009 prior to its purchase said that he had, in fact, advised SCP Managing Director John Jonesse that the vessel was unsuitable for Tongan waters, but this advice was ignored.
Captain Viliami Vi, a lecturer at the Tonga Maritime Institute, an experienced master mariner in both Tonga and abroad, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking on January 14 that he was contacted by Jonesse in April last year. Jonesse told him he had found a replacement vessel for the MV Olovaha and wanted Catptain Vi to see its pictures and provide advice.
The first thing he looked at was the design of the vessel.
"It was plainly the wrong design for the wrong area, the area of operation of the vessel was wrong, and the design for the area of operation was wrong because it was designed to sail in sheltered waters and not meant for the open water."
The witness said Jonesse ignored his advice went on about how good the vessel was and so on.
Unsuitable
Assisting Counsel Manuel Varitimos asked the witness that in short, he had explained to Jonesse that the design was not suitable for Tongan waters because it had too many openings that werent suitable for the operation of open waters in Tonga.
The witness said yes and added that Jonesse changed the subject and continued onto another big subject and was trying to avoid the problem that he raised with the vessel.
"The first thing that I looked at on the vessel on the pictures - the main thing that really struck me was these - these big holes, openings on the side of the vessel and especially the bow - and how low it was - and it was not watertight, meaning fully covered, enclosed. It was all fully open. So thats when I first looked at it and it just strikes me that it was unsuitable," said the witness.
The extract of the Stability Book was also provided to the witness who viewed it for the first time and reaffirmed his professional view that the vessel was, indeed, unsuitable for Tongan waters.