Navy Will Use Sonar to Search for Sunken Cargo Ship El Faro
The El Faro lost power and went down in 15,000 feet of water east of the Bahamas last Thursday while attempting to outrun Hurricane Joaquin on its regular route from Jacksonville, Fla., to Puerto Rico.
The Coast Guard suspended its search for survivors in the disaster at sunset Wednesday, saying it was unlikely anyone would be found alive. “The outpouring of fellowship and support of the entire maritime family is felt here in Castine”, the academy said in a statement.
The US safety investigators say the U.S. Navy soon will set out to find the cargo ship sunk in Hurricane Joaquin and locate a data recorder critical to determining why it went down.
Investigators also interviewed the DPA (designated person ashore), the last person who spoke with the master of El Faro.
NATIONAL Transportation Safety Board vice chair Bella Dinh-Zarr has told reporters on Thursday the Navy will use sonar and other means to find the 790-foot El Faro on the sea floor. The ship was last heard from early on the morning of October 1 after its captain, Michael Davidson, reported that he had lost engine propulsion, was taking on water, and was listing.
Fedor, that pressured a social hit it off amongst the Coast Guard plus the omitted personnel and also their family members, known as ship’s vanished team subscribers “our other high quality mariners”. Robert Green, father of LaShawn Rivera, said the Coast Guard informed relatives Wednesday afternoon.
Many questions remain unanswered, including what caused the vessel to lose power, did pressure to deliver the cargo on time contribute to the tragedy and whether the ship’s age – more than 40 years – may have been a factor.
The ship left Jacksonville on September29 while Joaquin was still a tropical storm. El Yunque is nearly identical to the El Faro, which will help investigators as they probe the accident, Dinh-Zarr said. Family members said they hope so, too.
The recorder, required for all large ships since 2002, would contain radio communications, command discussions on the bridge, the ship’s speed and heading, the condition of its hull, wind speed and radar readings. “And not do it with a storm coming that can potentially become a hurricane“.