Captain

Government Findings Detail Moments of El Faro's Final Voyage

Government documents released Tuesday detail the final hours of the ill-fated voyage by the doomed El Faro freighter ship that sank in 2015.

The findings by the National Transportation Safety Board show the crew’s captain had conversations with other crew members the day before the ship would sink in the waters between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico during Hurricane Joaquin.

Search crews found the ship’s recorders after searching the vessel around 15,000 feet underwater this past summer.

The more than 500-page transcript sheds light on decisions by the ship's Capt. Michael Davidson to try to sail south of Hurricane Joaquin instead of taking a longer, safer route.    

It also revealed the captain believed he needed to consult with Tote Maritime officials before taking a longer, safer course home, something the company has disputed.

All 33 people onboard died during the tragedy.

The El Faro's data recorder shows that the doomed ship's captain urged a frightened crew member to move quickly to abandon ship in the vessel's final moments.
 
  The recordings transcribed from the ship's voyage data recorder were released Tuesday morning by the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C.
 
  The 790-foot freighter sank in October 2015 during Hurricane Joaquin after losing propulsion between Jacksonville, Florida, and Puerto Rico. All 33 people on board died.
 
  The more than 500-page transcript sheds light on decisions by the ship's Capt. Michael Davidson to try to sail south of Hurricane Joaquin instead of taking a longer, safer route.
 
  It also revealed the captain believed he needed to consult with Tote Maritime officials before taking a longer, safer course home, something the company has disputed.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us