Posted on 10/02/2015 9:01:12 AM PDT by halo66
MIAMI -
Coast Guard search and rescue crews are searching for a container ship with 33 crew members that sailed out of Jacksonville and was reported to be caught in Hurricane Joaquin, near Crooked Island, Bahamas.
The El Faro, a 735-foot ro-ro cargo ship, was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Jacksonville.
About 7:30 a.m. Thursday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Portsmouth, Virginia, received an Inmarsat satellite notification stating the El Faro was beset by Hurricane Joaquin, had lost propulsion and had a 15-degree list. The crew reported the ship had previously taken on water, but that all flooding had been contained...
http://www.news4jax.com/news/jacksonville-cargo-ship-missing-in-hurricane/35618018
(Excerpt) Read more at news4jax.com ...
I requested the mods to replace my breaking news post with yours. Always hoping but this is shaping to be one of the worst maritime disasters in this hemisphere in many years. 33 crew. God help them.
I haven’t heard any confirmation that a beacon had been detected. Seems like they would have detected something by now?
With that much “sail” surface, you get pushed wherever momma nature feels like pushing you. There’s a book called “In Peril” about a tanker that saved one of the External Tanks for the space shuttle being transported by barge that broke free off the coast of Florida. The barrages had a huge canopy to cover the tanks and the wind was pushing it towards shore. Very interesting story of what the skipper of the tanker do to rescue the barrage. Scary stuff. I rode those barrages on several trips and when the wind was up we could be a quarter mile off to either side of the tug pulling us.
Last known position and other data here:
If they were in danger of losing the ship, I would think so.
But there is a lot of shallow water near the Bahamas, they could be grounded on their side, and unable to communicate, but not in danger of sinking. Possible danger of breaking up in that condition, though.
Thanks...I am hoping for the best on this, but it’s not looking promising.
Prayers.
Wow...last updated speed was just over 1 knot
Never thought about the the shallow water...that would be great if it were grounded rather than sinking.
Ironic that this ship was built the same year as when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank.
Prayers up for all involved.
Two or more Amen to your prayers.
They may not give a rats butt about the crew. However, the vessel and cargo are worth millions of dollars. If those containers and ship end up scattered around the Bahamas and Florida they are subject to Lloyds Open Salvage Rules. Which means if it washes up on a beach somewhere it can be claimed by the first person that puts a line on it. Then they can negotiate for a fee for the cargo and ship.
A local report in San Juan, Puerto Rico (ElVocero.com - Spanish language), the ship’s last known status was “varado”, which means grounded, according to a communication with a cruise ship in the area. It is not clear how long ago this communication occured.
Thanks for the update...hoping for the best!
“it was reportedly a vehicle carrier”:
They all managed to get in a life raft before being rescued.
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