Navy Tug Apache Continues El Faro Search
According to the Navy Times, the search for the missing cargo ship El Faro continued last week as the Navy sent its fleet ocean tug Apache to help investigators.
The Apache left Norfolk, Virginia with undersea search systems onboard designed to find the El Faro, which is believed to have sunk. The vessel went missing in October during Hurricane Joaquin, off the coast of the Bahamas. Prior to its disappearance, the captain aboard the vessel communicated that it had a hull breach, blown scuttle and was taking on water.
The Navy is working alongside the National Transportation and Safety Board, which is also investigating the ship’s disappearance. All 33 people aboard the vessel are believed to be dead. The Apache is outfitted “with a side-scan sonar, an underwater remote-operated vehicle and a voyage data recorder locator,” according to the Times, and has been designed to look for vessel black boxes.
Officials say the El Faro black box could contain recordings about the ship’s radar, bridge-to-bridge communications and alarm systems, which could help investigators determine what caused it to sink.
What Happened to the Missing El Faro Ship?
We will continue to follow the El Faro story, so make sure you follow our blog for more news. Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against the vessel’s operator TOTE Maritime. Many questions are being asked about why the ship’s captain decided to sail despite the rough conditions caused by the hurricane.
Additionally, it has been reported that the ship was scheduled to have its boilers repaired in November, so there are questions surrounding the boat’s seaworthiness.
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Our maritime trial lawyers have obtained many verdicts and settlements for victims and their family members. In the video above, attorney Dave Anderson talks about the Limitation of Liability Act when it comes to maritime accidents.
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