Insurance papers delivered weeks later

THE commission of inquiry into the sinking of the mv Rabaul Queen has been told that the ship’s owner Peter Sharp gave insurance claims documents to a broker weeks after the ship sank.
Lae’s AON Risk Services branch manager Harry Laka told the commission yesterday that he had received survey documents and other certificates from Sharp after the sinking on Feb 2.
Laka who was summoned to produce documents told counsel assisting the commission Mal Varitimos that he went personally to the Rabaul Shipping office to pick up the survey, registration, load lining, cargo, class, registration and safe manning certificates relating to the insurance of the vessel.
He went to Rabaul on Feb 27 and returned the next day.
He told Varitimos that Sharp was at the office on the day of the meeting with his two legal officers, his financial controller and his son Alexander.
Laka said he could not recall the names of the legal aids and financial controller.