NZ looks at helping Tonga replace ferry

Some of the 54 survivors arrive at Pangi after being rescued. Two bodies have been found but 93 people are still missing. Photo / Emily Fenn

The Government is to help Tonga find a replacement for the ferry that sank a week ago with the loss of nearly 100 lives.

Prime Minister John Key spoke to his Tongan counterpart, Feleti Sevele, yesterday morning.

"I offered any support. I told him New Zealand would look with Australia at potentially replacing that vessel and I've asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today to look at that and see what alternatives might be available."

The Princess Ashika was a stop-gap and was due to be replaced in 2011.

Tongan Transport Minister Paul Karalus resigned yesterday after spending much of Monday denying claims that concerns over the seaworthiness of the vessel had been raised with the Government.

At least 149 people were on board the interisland ferry when it capsized last Wednesday, 86km northeast of Nuku'alofa.

Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while 93 people are presumed drowned after being trapped in the vessel.

They include 33 women and 10 children who were sleeping on the lower indoor decks.

Mr Karalus announced his resignation saying it was necessary to enable a royal commission of inquiry into the sinking.

"My ministry is the one that is the subject of the royal commission so one, from a legal perspective if no other, has to step aside to allow the process.

"One cannot be judge and judged at the same time."

Mr Karalus said his resignation was not an admission of responsibility and maintained that the Princess Ashika was seaworthy.

"We carried out our duties with due care and diligence," he said.

New Zealand Navy divers last night were hoping to find out whetheran object attached to a rope spottedin Tongan waters is the Princess Ashika.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillan said a Tongan Defence Service patrol craft returning to Nuku'alofa yesterday spotted a rope in the water and further investigation revealed it was "attached to something down below".

"The rope was found in the vicinity of the oil slick that we've beenlooking at and the last known position of the locator beacon," he said.

"We've spoken to the port company and it has been determined that the rope is of the type that was used by the Princess Ashika."

The rope was less than half a kilometre from the slick and the beacon position but Lieutenant Commander McMillan said it could not be assumed it was part of the wreckage.

He had mixed emotions about the possibility it was the Princess Ashika at the bottom of the rope.

He said it would be great to find the ferry but the 100m depth the object was at was 40m deeper than the New Zealand and Australian divers in Tonga for the search could reach.

Some organisations worldwide were capable of such a deep dive but if the Princess Ashika was found in more than 60m of water "that would be a matter for the Kingdom of Tonga to deal with".

Meanwhile, police yesterday interviewed crew members on the Southern Lily, which arrived in Auckland days after being in the Tongan capital.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Breach said the cargo ship had been in Nuku'alofa when the ferry sank.

Mr Breach said officers were taking statements from the crew because they were there on the night of the incident.

The Southern Lily left Auckland, bound for Nuku'alofa, last night.

- NZPA