Marine officer said he told Minister that Ashika was not good [1]
Monday, November 16, 2009 - 12:44. Updated on Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 11:42.
A marine officer has testified that he informed the former Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus, that the MV Princess Ashika was not a good vessel after its first sailing on July 4.
Giving critical evidence on November 13 to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, Lisiate Vuni Latu, a marine officer for the Marine and Ports Division of the Ministry of Transport confirmed that he attended a meeting with the former Minister together with Acting Director of Marine, Viliami Tu'ipulotu, a few days after July 3.
The Assisting Counsel to the Commission, Manuel Varitimos, stressed to the witness that in light of the importance of the meeting with the former Minister, he asked that he give as much detail as possible as to what was said during the meeting starting from the beginning. The counsel also informed him to answer the questions in Tongan and this was translated into English by an interpreter.
Answering specific questions, the marine officer confirmed that on the day of the meeting the Acting Director Viliami Tu'ipulotu rang him and said he should join in a meeting with the Minister, and they went together to the Transport office where he greeted them.
The witness confirmed that the meeting was held in the afternoon and he did not carry any documents in relation to the Ashika, nor did the former Minister provide any documents of Ashika. There was no agenda to the meeting as it only took five minutes, he said.
The witness confirmed that in the meeting the former Minister asked only one question, "How is this ship MV Princess Ashika?". The witness said he was silent for a while and was waiting for the Acting Director to reply but when it was evident he would not, he responded, "the boat is not good."
He said the former Minister replied, "this vessel would become a property of the Ministry of Transport to assist in transporting building materials to Vava'u and the outer islands in the Tonga group."
The witness said this was the end of the meeting and confirmed that the former Minister did not ask any other reasons as to why he said the boat is not good nor was he asked on any later time on his opinion of the vessel.
The witness also confirmed that the Acting Director did not ask anything after his reply to the former Minister's question. The meeting was held in Tongan with the former Minister speaking in Tongan.
Surveyors
The witness was a part of a team of surveyors who were instructed to conduct a detailed survey of the vessel on July 2 following its arrival in Nuku'alofa on July 1. The surveyors also included Lou Pale and 'Onesi Tu'ifua who also gave evidence during the week.
The marine officer confirmed to the inquiry that he agreed with the deficiency list they issued following the survey on July 2, that included the need for rectification of extensive corrosion on the vessel, the bow and stern ramp to be water tight, scuppers must be repaired to the surveyors' satisfaction, and the load line must not be submerged.
The witness reaffirmed witness 'Onesi Tu'ifua's evidence that he in fact pleaded with the Acting Director to stop MV Princess Ashika from sailing on July 3 in a discussion that he was present in. He did not recall the response from the Acting Director to 'Onesi's plea.
The witness continued to give evidence during the afternoon.
Meanwhile, in the morning session people started to attend the inquiry prior to the showing of the Ashika video taken on the seabed on August 18 for up to 90 minutes. The video captured by a Remote Underwater Operating Vehicle at over 100 metres on the Ha'apai seabed attracted a full house with more seating placed inside the hearing.