In the aftermath of the El Faro disaster which happened Oct. 1, 2015, the US Navy Salvage and Diving division of the Naval Sea Systems Command was contracted to locate the sunken ship, assist in the sea floor documentation of the wreckage, and recover the voyage data recorder.
The National Transportation Safety Board launched a full team to Jacksonville, Florida, to lead the federal investigation in cooperation with the Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping, and TOTE, the ship’s operating company, on Tuesday, October 6.
After the unsuccessful search for survivors the Coast Guard suspended the operation on Wednesday, October 7.
The US Coast Guard responded to the incident after receiving a series of distress alerts from the 737 foot-long roll-on/roll-off cargo ship El Faro that came close to Hurricane Joaquin while en route from Florida to Puerto Rico.
Thirty three people were on board when the accident occurred.
Image: TOTE Services