U.S. Coast Guard ending search for El Faro’s crew

Published on October 7th, 2015

(October 7, 2015) – The Coast Guard plans to end its search at sunset for 33 missing crew members from a U.S. cargo ship that sank last week during Hurricane Joaquin, officials announced Wednesday afternoon. Maritime experts have called the sinking of El Faro, which was carrying 28 American crew, the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.–flagged vessel in more than 30 years.

We will be studying the meteorological conditions and all of the factors that went into the decision-making to sail on that day and to continue to sail.” said Bella Dinh-Zarr, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman.

The 790-foot cargo ship sank Thursday (Oct. 1) off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin, a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds that was producing 50-foot waves. Officials say the ship’s captain had plans to go around the storm as he headed from Jacksonville, Fla., to Puerto Rico, but the El Faro suffered unexplained engine failure that left it unable to avoid the storm.