The Tongan skipper of the sunken vessel MV Princess Ashika said authorities knew the ship had problems but he was pressured into sailing her anyway.
In an interview with 3 News, Captain Maka Tuputupu explained how he has spent the days since the sinking, grieving.
About 95 lives were lost in the worst ferry disaster in the Pacific region.
Captain Tuputupu was trapped on board as the ship went under.
Tuputupu was the last person to make it off the ship.
He was on the bridge making mayday calls when the MV Princess Ashika went down.
Under water and in the dark Captain Tuputupu managed to open a hatch and free himself from the sinking vessel, swimming several meters to the surface.
Tuputupu said the waves were no bigger than one meter but the ship started taking in water through the rusted loading ramps of the vessel.
Captain Tuputupu said government officials and bosses at the shipping company were the only ones who knew about the state of the MV Princess Ashika as they had it surveyed.
But he said financial pressure meant staff were told to go out anyway.
Divers from Australia and New Zealand are in Tonga to assist with the search of the wreckage.
Authorities knew ship had problems-Captain
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