Viliami Tuputupu admits this to the Royal Commission's public hearing into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.

He says the former Managing Director of the Shipping Company, John Jonesse instructed him to sail the ferry every week. In addition, Jonesse also directed the captain to follow closely the Ashika's inter island ferry timetable.

Mr. Tuputupu also goes on to inform the inquiry that he woke up five minutes before the ship went down. He adds at the time, the boat turned about 45 degree sideways and the water was already in knee high.

He also agreed to a suggestion from Counsel Afeaki that the crew failed the chain of command, adding that people including women and children weren't woken up from their sleep when the tragic event happened.

Mr. Tuputupu also accepted that crew members also failed to distribute life jackets to the people on board.

In addition, he agreed that it's the master's responsibility and duty is the safety of passengers. The captain also admits there was time to save passengers and steps should have been taken by crew members to save the passengers' lives.

Also in today's hearing, the captain admits that he appeared on TV3 NZ and blamed the Shipping Company over the tragic event.

Mr. Tuputupu also told the inquiry that in a conversation with the owner of the Patterson Brothers, George Patterson confirms that when the Honourable Prime Minister sometimes visited Fiji, they always sail on the MV Princess Ashika.

Asked whether he was aware that Fiji Marine pressured the Patterson Brother's over some issues relating to the vessel, Mr. Tuputupu said he didn't know that. Mr. Tuputupu also admits he didn't know that passenger's capacity was reduced from 405 to 160 including people and crew on board.

Two pictures of the sunken vessel resting in seabed were also circulated during the hearing. In the photo, two life rafts were still on the boat. According to Counsel Varitimos, they were not used because there are ropes tied

In his last testimony Mr. Tuputupu says, for the rest of his life, he will not sail another boat like the MV Princess Ashika, because he has learned his lessons well.

The inquiry continues

eTonga Tonga News