Tongan Ferry Sinks

[http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5780441/dozens-missing-after-tonga-ferry-sinks/]

Continuing the terrible news regarding Pacific Ferry services, comes news of a sinking off Nuku'alofa:

Dozens missing after Tonga ferry sinksABC August 6, 2009, 10:51 am

August 5, 2009, 6:15 pmA ferry carrying 79 people has sunk near the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, with dozens of people missing.

The inter-island ferry, the Princess Ashika, put out a mayday call and activated its distress beacon. It is believed to have sunk about 86 kilometres north-east of the capital.

Twenty-six people are still missing, but Neville Blakemore from New Zealand's Rescue coordination centre says the water is 25 degrees Celsius, boosting people's chances of surviving.

He says the ferry was built in Japan in 1970, but had recently been operating in Fiji.

"It's been brought over to Tonga to fill in the gaps, one of their last ferries just went out of service and the new one hasn't been completed so this was a stop gap measure for them," he said.

"We understand that seven life rafts have been recovered and that's where the majority of the 42 people came from and we understand that there was probably only eight life rafts anyway, so it looks like we're looking for people in the water."

He says 53 crew and passengers have been rescued.

The fate of the rest of the people on board is still unknown.

Three New Zealand vessels and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion have been sent to the scene.

Australian Matthew Mulligan who runs a bar in Va'vau says his staff members are anxiously waiting to hear if any of their relatives are among the missing.

"Tonga's a very close connected network here, it hits close to home especially with the Tongan community," he said.

"The ferry caters to all ages and demographics, so you've got the elderly, the middle-aged and staff of mine that have families supposedly on the boat - there's babies on board as well, which is the hard thing."

I've been following this on the news all day. How absolutely horrible - I hope the Orions find some more survivors.

Matangi Tonga Online has a few updates:

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/global_index.shtml

Terrible news.

terrible indeed.

I didn't read this morning's paper until a few minutes ago.

My prayers go out.

What was the thing about no women and children surviving?

It looks like the women and children were sheltering inside from the wind and the sea. The boat capsized within one minute after the captain had warned passengers about rough seas and they didn´t have time to escape. Last thing I heard was that 2 women had been found alive last night, one of them being from Pangai. Some tragic stories here in Ha'apai and everywhere else, too. It is a nightmare. The NZ and Australian Navy keep searching for survivors.

According to this report more than half of those known to be missing are men.

Tourists from apparently at least 4 different nationalities were also on board, and one of them has already been found dead.

This ferry looks like the old ferries across Lake Constance in Germany, a short distance on a lake, not an ocean.

Its a shockingly sad event.

i find it interesting that they say they have some sort of passenger list, when we caught the Pulupaki a couple of years ago the was certainly no manifest of who was on board. They just sold us a ticket and away we went.

Did the King decide to go to Scotland in the end?

In the Solomons, they usually write your first name on the ticket and keep a carbon copy - maybe they do this in Tonga too.

Quote: Did the King decide to go to Scotland in the end?

Yes - and it's caused a bit of concern:

http://www.3news.co.nz/Tongan-king-criticised-for-holiday-plans-/tabid/313/articleID/115825/cat/61/Default.aspx

That's what I wondered. It's rather concerning.

Absolutely horrible. Just horrible.

A few years ago, in Fiji, I took the Princess Ashika from Ellington Wharf to Vanua Levu.

The distinguishing thing about the boat was that it had two engines, one for each propeller, but the engines weren't synchronized -- bad engineering, and the thing vibrated like hell. I have pics of it, a lot of hull rust that was simply painted over.

the princess ashika did look pretty flash compared to the vessle it had replaced http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_tesh/1354800824/in/set-72157601946321553/

Hell.

well, this crap happens when you have slack legislation and lazy enforcement.

It also happens in a poor developing country spread out over a number of islands and needing cheap transport.

It does, #18, but heads of department earn TOP$44,000 (AUD$26,189.33), and they do have engineers there earning considerably less.

it is not too much to ask that they actually inspect things on a reasonably regular basis.

They already have the people and resources to police compliance.

re: #19-which brings up the question-will someone be held to account?

My guess is no one will.

#20, you may have something there.

Further info here

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2009/August/08-10-01.htm

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2009/August/08-10-02.htm

It's just like SE Asia, there is no accountability.

The finger pointing has started

pic of sunken ferry

From the link at #24:

""that the MV Ashika was given a certificate of seaworthiness and that it was insured."

If they sailed knowing it was unseaworthy then any insurance is ruined. They won't get a cent, nor will the families.

This in today from Google Alerts:

Minister Resigns

It's a pity. I really liked Paul, he was doing good work, and had some great ideas about Aviation in the Kingdom, not that too many in power would listen to him.

more here

Edited by: Leo_Walsh

A Minister who resigns with honour can be brought be back into Govt at some future date.

The finger pointing to date (as per the second link) really is nauseating-which may be part of the reason for the resignation.

True, and Paul is a damn fine administrator and worthy of staying on, although if he comes back, and I hope he does, he will probably be keeping a much more wary eye on his compliance staff.

RIP

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/outerislands/20090826_ashika_burial-at-sea.shtml

A very poignant tribute-the photos in the article as linked are very moving-Thanks for posting.

indeed.