El Faro Captain's Pleas for Help Played at Hearing
The captain of the doomed El Faro warned that the "clock was ticking" as his cargo ship took on water in an Atlantic hurricane that would eventually sink the vessel, a U.S. Coast Guard panel heard on Saturday. Captain Michael Davidson pleaded for help as his ship, operated by Tote Services, sailed into the path of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas, according to a recording of his final calls played at the hearing. He told an on-shore call center of a "maritime emergency," saying water breached the hull, entering three holds. Soon afterwards, contact with the ship was broken, and Davidson and 32 others were lost at sea. The sinking ranks as the worst disaster involving a U.S.-flagged cargo ship in more than three decades.
Widow of El Faro Crewman Seeks Stronger Oversight of Ships
The widow of one of the 33 crew members killed when the El Faro sank in a hurricane last fall called on Friday for stricter oversight of decisions by shipping companies and their captains to sail in adverse weather. Rochelle Hamm's husband, 49-year-old Frank Hamm of Baltimore, died on Oct. 1 when the El Faro went down off the Bahamas in the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.-flagged vessel in more than three decades. The U.S. Coast Guard began hearings this week to investigate the sinking.
Search for Ship Lost in Hurricane a Big Challenge
Deep seas may complicate efforts to find the sunken U.S. cargo ship lost off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin, a federal safety investigator said, as a search and rescue mission for 32 missing crew stretched into a sixth day. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board team arrived on Tuesday in Jacksonville, Florida, the port the El Faro departed from last week en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship disappeared in what maritime experts have called the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.-flagged vessel in more than 30 years.
U.S. Investigators Head to Florida to Probe Ship Lost in Hurricane
Federal safety investigators traveled to Florida on Tuesday to investigate the U.S. container ship lost at sea after being hit by powerful Hurricane Joaquin, leaving one person confirmed dead and 32 others missing. The team from the National Transportation Safety Board left Washington for Jacksonville, Florida, where the El Faro had departed from last week en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, before disappearing in what maritime experts called the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.-flagged vessel in more than 30 years.
Hunt for Missing El Faro Ship Enters 4th day, Hopes Fade
Search and rescue teams resumed scouring the seas on Monday for the missing cargo ship El Faro and it mostly American crew, after it was caught in the eye of Hurricane Joaquin four days ago, the U.S. Coast Guard said. More than 70,000 square nautical miles have been searched so far, the Coast Guard said. On Sunday, aircrews found a debris field in the vicinity of the ship's last known position, including styrofoam, wood, cargo and other items. There was no confirmation that the debris belonged to the El Faro…
SNA West Coast Symposium Highlights Maritime Strategy
Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis, Commander, Naval Surface Forces and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, kicked off the 10th annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Coast 2008 Symposium Aug. 28 at Naval Base San Diego. 'Executing the Maritime Strategy' was the theme of this year's symposium for which Curtis provided opening remarks. The event provided members of the surface warfare community an opportunity to discuss maritime strategy issues critical to the future success of the Navy. Some topics of discussion at the day-long symposium included international programs in support of Maritime Strategy, Maritime Strategy in Africa, Maritime Strategy in the Pacific, Maritime Strategy in the and Resourcing the Maritime Strategy.
