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Princess Ashika, the ferry that sank 86 km northeast of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa - Source: Reuters -
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As the Tongan Royal Commission resumes its inquiry into the sinking of the ferry Princess Ashika four months ago, locals are no closer to having a full replacement inter-island service.
The Princess Ashika suddenly sank while on a regular run between Nuku`alofa and the northern island of Ha'apai on August 5, with the loss of 74 lives.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry has taken a two-week break after hearing damning evidence from witnesses, many of them surviving passengers, about the unsafe state of the vessel.
Some reported seeing water pouring on to the cargo deck through holes, and others told of a complete lack of safety or evacuation instructions.
The ferry's captain told the inquiry he was asleep for much of the fatal sailing and was awoken only five minutes before the ferry overturned and sank.
John Jonesse, the New Zealander who was managing director of Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, bought the 37-year-old ferry on behalf of the Tongan government, but said he never looked into the state of the vessel's hull.
The Princess Ashika was only ever intended to be a stop-gap measure while the Tongan government waited for a new ferry to be built in Japan.
Local newspaper Matangi Tonga reported that the new ferry would not be ready for at least another year.
This leaves a limited inter-island service in the hands of private operator Uata Shipping.
The areas hardest hit are the remote Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu islands in the north of Tonga.
Niuatoputapu was still recovering from the devastating tsunami which hit the region at the end of September, claiming nine lives and destroying homes.
Reconstruction had been made more difficult because there was no reliable ferry service, the newspaper said.
Tenders have been called internationally for a replacement service but the Nuku'alofa office of New Zealand aid agency NZAID said nothing had been confirmed and negotiation was continuing.
Meanwhile, the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia (SCP) said an interim ferry service was now badly needed for the northernmost islands as school holidays and Christmas approached.
"This is a busy time of the year for inter-island travellers who may want to return home for Christmas or visit families, but we have no ferry," said acting CEO Tali'ofa Kolopeaua.
In a letter to the editor, one reader said that in light of the Princess Ashika tragedy, the Tongan government had issued such restrictive requirements for a replacement that it would be unappealing to those considering tendering for the service, particularly on a temporary basis.
"The SCP may have done well to learn some very tough lessons lately, but it shouldn't completely lose its head in the process," he said.
