The ferry that sank off Tonga in August was a rustbucket, the company secretary of owner Pacific Shipping Corporation says.
Lord Dalgety told the Royal Commission investigating the Princess Ashika sinking that if due diligence on the boat had been done, it would not have been bought.
He said it is difficult to escape the conclusion that negligence was involved, if advice from the solicitor-general recommending an audit into the Princess Ashika was ignored.
Transcripts of the investigation this week in Tonga indicate a lack of governance in both the operation of the corporation and subsequent purchase of the ferry.
A former freight officer with the shipping corporation said ferry crew reported the vessel flooded on every voyage prior to its purchase.
More than 70 lives were lost in the sinking, which occurred on 5 August, about 90km northwest of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.
