Establishment

The inter-island ferry, the MV Princess Ashika, sank in Tongan waters in August 2009. There were many lives tragically lost. Pursuant to the Royal Commission Act (Cap 41) Laws of Tonga, a Royal Commission into the Sinking of the MV Princess Ashika (the Royal Commission) has been established.

The Royal Commissioners are: :

1. The Honourable Justice Warwick Andrew CBE, CRH - Chairman
2. Mr Richard Alexander James - Naval Architect and Engineer
3. Mr Michael Keith Handfield - Master Mariner

The Royal Commission is required to make its inquiry and to furnish to the King in Council and the Legislative Assembly its interim report no later than 30 November 2009 and their final report no later than 31 March 2010

Term of Reference

The Royal Commission will inquire into and report upon a number of matters including :

1. The facts about the disaster and the accompanying search, rescue and recovery of the disaster victims;
2. The cause of the disaster;
3. Evidence leading to any criminal act contributing to the disaster;
4. Evidence leading to any civil responsibility for the disaster;
5. The reasons why the loss of lives attained such magnitude;
6. Present proposals for any measures that would help to prevent the future occurrence of a similar disaster, or may assist in future search, rescue and recovery of disaster victims.

Section 9 of the Royal Commission Act provides : "No evidence taken under this Act shall be admissible against any person in any civil or criminal proceeding whatever, except in the case of a person charged under section 11 of this Act with false interpretation or with giving false evidence before the Commissioners".