Navy divers from New Zealand and Australia have been asked to come into Tonga to reach the sunken ferry MV Princess Ashika that is lying in over 36m (100 feet) of water, possibly holding the bodies of dozens of trapped victims.

Tonga Police Commander Chris Kelley said this morning that assistance in reaching the vessel has been requested from New Zealand and Australia because the Tonga Defence Services and police do not have the capacity to reach that depth.

"A major issue is that vessel is in 36 metres of water - that's over 100 feet, and we don't have the capability to get to that depth in the Tongan navy or police.

"We have requested assistance from Australia and New Zealand and we understand that their divers can reach 52 meters, " he said.

It is believed that many of the 62 known to be missing may be trapped inside the vessel.

"The magnitude of the disaster speaks for itself - this is a huge undertaking for everyone involved," he told a press conference this morning.

SOS call

Little is known about the cause of the sinking.

"The MV Princess Ashika operated by the Shipping Company of Polynesia reported a mayday SOS distress call at approximately 2350 hours on August 5.

"The distress call was immediately picked up by Nuku'alofa Coastal Radio. The voice making the call identified as the Master said "we are going to sink in this position 20 24'S 174.56'W.

"A few minutes later an emergency beacon was activated and confirmed the location of the vessel at a position between Noumuka and Ha'afeva Islands in the Ha'apai Group."

Commander Kelley confirmed that the vessel was a ferry on a routine voyage between Tongatapu, Ha'apai, and Vava'u.

"As at 0100 hours on August 7, Tonga Police and the Shipping Company believe that 117 persons were on board when the vessel left Tongatapu on Wednesday evening."

Search and rescue operation

He said the distress call was picked up immediately and a search and rescue operation was quickly underway initiated by Coastal Radio Nuku'alofa and the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington.

Police, defence services and other agencies, as well as vessels in the area responded immediately.

"Passengers and crew from the Princess Ashika were being rescued by 0300 hours," he said.

"The sea conditions at the time were moderate and there was a 20 knot Easterly wind.

"Information is still being gathered in relation to how the vessel came to sink and it is too early to speculate on the cause," he said

"A considerable amount of passengers items, deck cargo and items from the vessel were located floating on the surface in the general drift pattern.

"That is starting to break up now but the weather is quite good," he said, confirmed that the search and rescue operation is continuing.

"There is a possibility that the 117 names could increase. It is a terrible tragedy, and the impact on all people will be huge. We are very sorry that Tongans here and abroad will be under great stress. We are doing our best to determine the identity of the people onboard," said Commander Kelley.

Victim support

"A major focus for police is victim support and assisting those families who may have relatives and friends still unaccounted for," he said.

Police telephone hotlines. [2]