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Tonga ferry Princess Ashika underwater - Source: Royal New Zealand Navy -
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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has adjourned for three weeks, but not before hearing damning evidence from the former Tongan director of ports.
Bill Johnson agreed with counsel at the inquiry that he was negligent by not sending surveyors to Fiji to survey the ferry before a decision was made to buy it, local newspaper Matangi Tonga reported.
Seventy-four people died when the Ashika suddenly sank late on the night of August 5.
On the final day of hearings for the year, Johnson surprised the inquiry by saying he signed a provisional certificate of survey for the vessel on June 9 when, in fact, he retired as Director of Marine the day before, and the issue of provisional certificates under the Shipping Act was repealed six years ago.
He also said he gave New Zealander John Jonesse, the chief executive of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, a surveyor checklist before he went to Fiji to look at the Ashika but he agreed that Jonesse was not a surveyor with any shipping experience.
Jonesse approved the ferry's purchase for $F600,000 ($NZ438,000).
Johnson did not have any explanation for why he did not send a qualified surveyor and agreed it was negligent of him not to do so.
He also confirmed that he was never shown a current survey certificate for the Princess Ashika and he never asked to see one.
The inquiry will resume on January 12.
