The Arthur Anderson was not far behind the Fitzgerald during the entire storm. They were in radio contact through the point where the Fitz went down. Captain Cooper, of the Anderson, gave quite a long talk about it for the Wisconsin Maritime Society. It’s difficult to get a copy of the presentation these days.
There is a very, very short version of his analysis online. It’s interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VXY6tuZ5eU
[The biggest piece of info this abbreviated version leaves out is Cooper’s opinion of when the Fitz bottomed out. They sailed overly close to a known/marked shoal, and Cooper’s first-mate remarked on the fact. Cooper’s reply was, ‘They went a lot closer than we’re going to go.’
“The Arthur Anderson was not far behind the Fitzgerald during the entire storm...”
Explains a lot. They were probably soliciting bribes.