Large holes were revealed on the side of the MV Princess Ashika in a range of pictures released by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika yesterday, November 9.

The pictures were provided to the commission by the General Manager of the Ports Authority Tonga, Commander Lupeti Vi, who in a letter dated October 6, 2009, confirmed that he had received the pictures four days after the sinking on August 5.

Lupeti said that in his experience as a seafarer the pictures revealed the defects and the condition of the MV Princess Ashika.

On October 29, 2009, these pictures were shown to a witness Manase Katoa, a SCP fitter and welder, who did numerous repairs on the Ashika. In his evidence he identified to the commission his brother Metilini also a welder, welding holes on side of the vessel as shown.

The pictures of the holes and welding work were taken on July 14, 2009.

(The pictures released here are poor quality and appear to be scans of desktop prints.)

See also: A welder tells of more holes and corrosion on Ashika [2]