Ferry 'fully seaworthy' says Tongan official

Tonga's transport minister will not be drawn into speculating on what may have caused the inter-island ferry Princess Ashika to suddenly sink on Wednesday night.

Paul Karalus said the vessel was fully certified and seaworthy and would not have been allowed to sail if it was not.

There were an estimated 149 people on board when it sank. Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while 93 people remain unaccounted for.

Police say the final number of missing could be higher, as confusion remains over the true number of passengers.

Mr Karalus said the ferry was licensed to carry up to 396 passengers and cargo.

It had only been in Tonga for six weeks, having come from Fiji where it had operated for many years.

Mr Karalus denied that concerns had been raised with the government about the ferry's seaworthiness prior to the tragedy.

"We are confident that the actual (maritime safety) requirements internationally are met and that is subject to audit," he told Radio New Zealand.

Tonga's Ministry of Transport relied on regional and international maritime agencies to conduct audits on a regular basis, he said.

Issues such as survey certificates and the training of seamen were covered by the international audits.

All the paperwork would be available as part of the investigation into what happened to the Princess Ashika.

"It's pure speculation to make comment at this point."

Mr Karalus said it was only natural that Tongans would feel traumatised by the sinking and want to apportion blame for the tragedy.

"We expect that part of the normal reaction will include anger.

"I think a lot of us could be assuaged by a full explanation of the actual state of the industry, and the state of the vessels, and the state of the practice that was carried out - which is exactly what we are doing."

Mr Karalus said Tonga had engaged a "very, very experienced marine accident investigator" and also called on the services of New Zealand's Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

"The purpose for that is that the government here is very keen to have it seen that this is being handled in a totally transparent and professional manner."

John Hogan, director of the regional maritime programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, which oversees shipping in the region, audits the local authorities and is in charge of training, echoed Mr Karalus' sentiments.

Much of the speculation about what had happened was ill-informed, he said.

`It's pointless speculating now on what happened to the ferry until the investigation has been completed."

Meanwhile, a New Zealand navy dive team will today spend its third day looking for bodies of those still missing, and trying to pinpoint the location of the ferry.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillan said an autonomous underwater vehicle was being used.

However, the topography was challenging, with depths ranging from 35-800m.

Its equipment was effective to 115m at the most, making the depth of the vessel's resting place crucial to its discovery.

"So with the topography, with the uncertainty of where the vessel has gone down, we have to face the realisation that we might not even be able to find it," Lt Cdr McMillan said.

- NZPA