JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Investigators trying to determine why a 790-foot cargo ship stalled and sank in the howling winds of Hurricane Joaquin will be searching for a brightly colored device bolted to the vessel deep in the ocean. ADVERTISING
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Investigators trying to determine why a 790-foot cargo ship stalled and sank in the howling winds of Hurricane Joaquin will be searching for a brightly colored device bolted to the vessel deep in the ocean.
Authorities say the El Faro’s voyage data recorder, similar to the “black box” on an aircraft, would provide a wealth of data on what befell the container ship and the 33 people aboard in the hours before it’s believed to have gone down. The recorder emits a ping for 30 days after hitting the water.
National Transportation Safety Board officials say a deep-diving, remote-controlled submersible could bring the recorder up if the ship is located in some 15,000 feet of water off the Bahamas.
The Coast Guard suspended its search for the crew Wednesday, almost a week after the ship went missing.
