On being questioned by Assisting Counsel to the Commission Manuel Varitimos she confirmed her affidavit where she referred that Government failed to carry out proper due diligence and the procurement policy was not complied with when buying the ship. She also pointed out a failure of the Ministry of Transport who was responsible for proper checking of the vessels.
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Results for Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika
Tuesday 26 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Monday 25 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Only five months after the tragic sinking of the Ashika in August 2009 with the loss of 74 lives, a second Tongan ferry is in trouble, an inquiry learned today, when it was told that the privately-owned MV Pulupaki had sailed at the weekend - after its owners, who include a member of parliament, ignored a detainment order from the Ministry of Transport.
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Friday 22 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Company Secretary for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., Lord Dalgety QC, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika that the Government of Tonga was negligent by not conducting proper due diligence of the vessel and it was not SCP duty to do so or to interfere.
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Wednesday 20 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Dalgety QC, the Company Secretary for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., the operator of the MV Princess Ashika, in another twist in his second day of evidence, this morning, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika that he had already wished to resign from his position.
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Wednesday 20 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The intense questioning of Lord Dalgety QC provided moments of courtroom drama on Day 31 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika on January 19, continuing today, with the witness admitting that there was crucial information the SCP should have had and proper due diligence was not carried out in the purchase of the vessel by government.
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Monday 18 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The cargo deck of the Princess Ashika was flooded on every voyage it took when it was in operation, and a refrigerator full of frozen food floated and refrigeration ceased, Nikola Tau, a former freight officer with the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika this morning, January 18.
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Friday 15 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Friday 15 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga ferry sinking, MV Princess Ashika, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika,
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Thursday 14 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A New Zealand inspector who inspected the main engine of the Princess Ashika vessel in Fiji in April 2009, revealed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, he never signed an Audit Document for the Ashika as he never knew one existed.
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Thursday 14 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Director of New Zealand Marine Brokers told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika the vessel had no real value due to its old age and advanced state of corrosion.
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Thursday 14 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele will give evidence on February 12 at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Nuku'alofa.
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Monday 21 December 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Former Director of the Marine Division of Tonga's Ministry of Transport Bill Johnson agreed that he was negligent by not sending surveyors to Fiji to survey the MV Princess Ashika before a decision was made to buy the vessel.
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Wednesday 16 December 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Ports Authority manager, Commander Lupeti Vi, this morning told the Ashika inquiry that it was not his responsibility to stop the vessel from sailing.
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Monday 14 December 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Women and children passengers were trapped inside the enclosed passengers cabin shouting and crying out while holding on to their children as the Princess Ashika capsized, said a surviving crewman who managed to get out alive.
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Friday 11 December 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Auditor General Pohiva Tu'ionetoa, a member of a Government Procurement Committee told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on December 10, that in May it became known to the committee that Cabinet had made a decision on April 23 to buy the vessel, and a contract was already signed.
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Tuesday 8 December 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika published its Interim Report on November 27, 2009, stating it needs to hear more witnesses and consider other evidence.
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Monday 23 November 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika has adjourned for two weeks and will resume on Monday, December 7.
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Monday 23 November 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Captain Viliami Makahokovalu Tuputupu gave evidence on November 19 and said he knew the MV Princess Ashika was unseaworthy but sailed anyway, because he relied on information from the Marine and Ports Division to state the vessel was not good to operate, but at the same time he never believed it would sink on August 5.
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Monday 16 November 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government Procurement Committee, whose primary job is to ensure Government is procuring goods at a reasonable price and of appropriate quality, was left in the dark when Cabinet made the decision to purchase the MV Princess Ashika ferry from Fiji in April earlier this year, the Ashika Inquiry was told on Friday.
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Monday 16 November 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hundreds of people filled the Fa'onelua Convention Centre for the first public viewing of the MV Princess Ashika wreckage video at 4:30 pm on Friday, November 13, pushing through the doors to get seats while others sat on the floor, while many more waited outside the gates for a second screening.
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