Vital evidence shows Ashika built for smooth waters [1]
Friday, January 15, 2010 - 19:00. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 21:53.
The MV Princess Ashika was designed to operate only on smooth waters with a sailing time of not more than three hours, according to a report that was presented to the Ashika Inquiry today.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the vessel's sinking produced the document on January 14 and confirmed it as an extract from the original Stability Book obtained from Japan.
The Stability Report or Book is a critical document for the safety of the vessel specifically outlining the suitability of the vessel to the area of navigation, sailing duration and tonnage.
The document had been a mystery since the inquiry began last year because neither John Jonesse the SCP Managing Director or the Tonga Marine Division produced a copy, although it was an essential piece of paper.
Jonesse in his evidence in November 2009 claimed that he did not see the report while in Fiji but he was told there was one and when he asked for it he was told by the former owners that it was on board the vessel.
But it was never produced and allegedly no one in Tonga had ever seen a copy of it.
But on January 14 the commission produced the extract for the first time and submitted it as an exhibit that contained both the Japanese original version and its English translation. Copies were also handed out to members of the press.
Smooth water vessel
The document confirmed the area of navigation for the Ashika was smooth water and sailing time was 1.5 hours or over but less than three hours.
Dated September 1974 the original report was issued at Shikoku District Maritime Bureau after the vessel was launched in August 1972 under the name "Olive Maru No. 1". It stated the maximum persons at 417, including crew.
However, evidence had confirmed that in April 2009, this number had been reduced tremendously to 160 as ordered by the Fiji Marine Board due to their concern for the safety of passengers and the fact that the vessel was old.
But in Tonga it was evident that the vessel carried more passengers than it was lawfully required to, up until it sank on August 5, 2009 with the loss of 74 lives.