The Riddle In Tonga Ferry Disaster

There is a dispute, which is likely to be resolved only by a marine inquiry, into the number of people who were aboard the Tonga registered inter-island ferry, Just David, when she foundered in the tiny harbour of ’Eua Island, a few miles from Tongatapu, on June 19.

Eight Tongans lost their lives— seven passengers, mostly children, and one police constable who valiantly swam from sho-e to help.

The Just David is a solid, 45 ft, 19 ton net motor vessel owned by Maafu Enterprises, of Nukualofa, operated by two partners—Layton Zimmer and Peter Warner. Its master was Mano Totau, 25, who

coincidentally was one of six teenage Tongans who in 1966 were marooned for 15 months on the uninhabited Tongan island of Ata, and who were rescued by Captain Warner in the Just David.

Just David was licensed to carry 24 passengers and a crew of five and Captain Warner said he believes she was carrying no more than 29 when she left Nukualofa on her three-hour voyage to ’Eua. But after the ship struck the reef and quickly sank, government sources on ’Eua reported to Nukualofa that 48 passengers plus the captain and crew of three had been rescued. The passenger book sank with the ship.