Lermontov ‘cover-up’ denied by inspector

Press, 17 May 1986, Page 3

Lermontov ‘cover-up’ denied by inspector

Wellington reporter Captain Steve Ponsford, the marine inspector who conducted the preliminary investigation into the sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov, said yesterday there was no cover-up. Captain Ponsford was responding to an Opposition call for a full investigation in light of "a growing disquiet in informed maritime circles over grave questions that remain unanswered.” He said his opinion had not changed; that he had felt at the time that there

was no need for a formal inquiry and that he would still make that recommendation to the Government. National’s spokesman on transport, Mr Winston Peters, said that Captain Ponsford’s conclusion, which was essentially that responsibility for the accident lay with the Marlborough Harbour Board’s chief pilot, Captain Don Jamison, ran counter to normal practice. Mr Peters’ point was that charge of a vessel remains at all times with the master, in this case

Captain Vladislav Vorobyov, whether the ship was under pilotage or not. The Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, has dismissed agitation for a further inquiry as the work of “crackpots,” saying that he is regularly asked to conduct another investigation into the Erebus disaster. Mr Peters warned the Minister yesterday that he would not let the matter rest and that he would raise it again in Parliament.