**The captain of the Tongan ferry which sank in August, drowning more than 70 people, has admitted he believed the vessel was not seaworthy.**But Captain Viliami Tuputupu, master of the Princess Ashika, did not stop it from going to sea.
The captain was giving testimony before the Tongan Royal Commission looking into the ferry disaster.
More than 70 people, mostly women and children, died in the sinking, but most of their bodies can not be recovered.
During questioning, Mr Tuputupu said because a certificate of seaworthiness had been issued for the ferry, it was up to its operator, the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, and marine transport officials, to stop it from going to sea.
Advanced corrosion
Asked why he had sent the Ashika to sea in July and August despite his concerns over its condition, he said:
“Sir, because the company wanted the ship to sail and I think that the ship is seaworthy because of the certificate from the Marine allowed the ship to sail,” he said.
A representative of Tonga’s Ministry of Transport said at the hearing that the captain should have conveyed his concern to the then-managing director of of the Shipping Corporation, John Jonesse.
The captain agreed that he had said that the vessel was too old and rusty but had failed to pass on his concerns that the vessel was not seaworthy.
Radio Australia reported that Mr Tuputupu was also questioned by Kahungunu Afeaki, the legal representative for former Tongan Transport Minister Paul Karalus, who resigned days after the sinking.
Mr Afeaki noted Mr Tuputupu had captained the Princess Ashika on five previous voyages, and the success of those journeys had depended on the “guidance and the attention of [Mr Tuputupu’s] crew to the journeys.”
“On the night the vessel sunk, yourself and the crew failed to pay that necessary attention. That’s what really happened, wasn’t it” Mr Afeaki asked.
“Yes, sir,” Mr Tuputupu said, Radio Australia reported.
Earlier sittings of the commission have heard that corrosion on the vessel’s hull was so advanced it could be easily broken through with a pen, or a kick by a young child.
The inquiry is scheduled to continue until next week before recessing for Christmas.
The identities of 37 of those missing and presumed drowned have been confirmed, police said, but some of the rest may never be known.