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A Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika is due to begin today, reports stuff.co.nz
The inter-island ferry sank suddenly off the coast of Nuku'alofa on August 5, killing 75 passengers.
A three-member commission has promised a "full, faithful and impartial inquiry" which will try to determine what caused the sinking.
In particular, it will look at whether any criminal act contributed to the disaster, and whether there was evidence of civil responsibility.
Investigators will also look into why the death toll was so high.
There have been questions about the seaworthiness of the ferry, with the government accused of cost-cutting over its decision to bring the vessel to Tonga in the first place.
The vessel was bought from Fiji this year by the government-owned Shipping Corporation of Polynesia as a stop-gap measure before a new vessel was launched in 2011.
The inquiry is being supported by a New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) team.
An interim report based on the public hearings will be compiled at the end of November with a final report expected by the end of March next year.
