SS El Faro: Difference between revisions
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'''''El Faro''''' is a |
'''''El Faro''''' is a RO-RO cargo ship sailing under the flag of the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/shipid:454389/mmsi:368208000/imo:7395351/vessel:EL_FARO|title=El Faro|publisher=Marinetraffic.com|accessdate=4 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/EL-FARO-IMO-7395351-MMSI-368208000|title=El Faro|publisher=Vesselfinder.com|accessdate=4 October 2015}}</ref> The ship sailed from Jacksonville, Florida to Puerto Rico on September 29, 2015 when then [[Tropical Storm Joaquin]] was several hundred miles to the east.<ref> Two days later, with Joaquin now a [[category 4 hurricane]], the vessel ceased all communications with shore and was declared missing on October 2nd.[http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/03/us/el-faro-missing-ship-hurricane-joaquin/index.html CNN reports 4 October 2015]</ref> As of October 4, 2015, the ship is the subject of a major search and rescue effort by the [[United States Coast Guard]] in waters immediately northeast of the [[Bahama Islands|Bahamas Islands]]. |
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==Build History of EL FARO== |
==Build History of EL FARO== |
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The roll on/roll off merchant cargo vessel |
The roll on/roll off merchant cargo vessel El Faro was constructed by the [[Sun Shipbuilding|Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation]] in [[Chester, PA]] in 1975 as the Puerto Rico. |
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==Trading history prior to incident== |
==Trading history prior to incident== |
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Originally operated by the Navieras de Puerto Rico Steamship Company, the |
Originally operated by the Navieras de Puerto Rico Steamship Company, the Puerto Rico served the island for over two decades until the operators ceased sailings in 1995. After its service in the US East Coast to Puerto Rico trade, the vessel was purchased by TOTE Maritime in Tacoma, Washington. Its new owner renamed it Northern Lights and placed it in service between Tacoma and Anchorage, Alaska. Northern Lights continued to sail between these two ports until the early 2000s, when the ship was chartered to the [[Military Sealift Command]] of the [[United States Navy]]. Under MSC charter, it carried vehicles and equipment to US military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ship was later transferred by TOTE to its subsidiary company Sea Star Lines and renamed El Faro. It then returned to coastwise liner service between Jacksonville, Forida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
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==Disappearance of |
==Disappearance of El Faro== |
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On September 29th, 2015, |
On September 29th, 2015, El Faro sailed from Jacksonville for San Juan on a routine voyage. At the time of departing Jacksonville, Hurricane Joaquin was still only a tropical storm and the vessel took a track to the north of the Bahamas Chain. This track may have been intended to keep the ship in the safe semicircle of the circulation and pass to the south of the eye. By October 1st, however, the ship was steaming straight for the eye. At approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT, the master reportedly held a conversation over satellite communications with the management offices of the owners. The exact content of the conversation is not yet available to the public, but the [[United States Coast Guard]] has reported that the master reported some flooding which had been stopped, but which has left the vessel with a 15 degree list. The master also reported a loss of propulsion, but it is unknown what caused it, or whether propulsion was regained. After that conversation, it appears that the ship's [[Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon]] (EPIRB) was activated, whose signal was received by the USCG in Portsmouth, VA. This signal prompted the USCG to contact the vessel owners, who informed them of the ship's reported condition. Subsequent attempts by the USCG to open communications with El Faro since October 1st have been unsuccessful. |
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On October 1st, NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft made attempts to locate |
On October 1st, NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft made attempts to locate El Faro without result. Beginning on Friday, October 2nd the USCG commenced a dedicated search for the ship with HC-130 aircraft which continued on Saturday October 3rd, with additional resources, including helicopters, cutters, and commercial tugboats. On that date, a life ring belonging to El Faro was recovered 70 miles northeast of the last known location of the ship. On the morning of Sunday, October 4th, the search was resumed. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:31, 4 October 2015
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2015) |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | EL FARO |
| Owner | TOTE Maritime |
| Operator | SeaStar Line |
| Port of registry | United States |
| Route | Jacksonville, FL to San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Ordered | 1973 |
| Builder | Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Laid down | 1974 |
| Launched | 1974 |
| Completed | 1975 |
| Identification | list error: <br /> list (help) Callsign WFJK IMO number: 7395351 MMSI number: 368208000 |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | commercial merchant cargo vessel |
| Type | combination lift on/lift off container and roll on/roll off vehicle carrier |
| Tonnage | 31,515 GT |
| Displacement | 14,971 tonnes deadweight (DWT) |
| Length | 242 metres (794 ft) |
| Beam | 29 metres (95 ft) |
| Propulsion | double reduction compound steam turbine |
| Speed | 22kts |
| Crew | 28 US citizen mariners & 5 Polish supernumeraries at time of disappearance |
El Faro is a RO-RO cargo ship sailing under the flag of the United States.[1][2] The ship sailed from Jacksonville, Florida to Puerto Rico on September 29, 2015 when then Tropical Storm Joaquin was several hundred miles to the east.[3] As of October 4, 2015, the ship is the subject of a major search and rescue effort by the United States Coast Guard in waters immediately northeast of the Bahamas Islands.
Build History of EL FARO
The roll on/roll off merchant cargo vessel El Faro was constructed by the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in Chester, PA in 1975 as the Puerto Rico.
Trading history prior to incident
Originally operated by the Navieras de Puerto Rico Steamship Company, the Puerto Rico served the island for over two decades until the operators ceased sailings in 1995. After its service in the US East Coast to Puerto Rico trade, the vessel was purchased by TOTE Maritime in Tacoma, Washington. Its new owner renamed it Northern Lights and placed it in service between Tacoma and Anchorage, Alaska. Northern Lights continued to sail between these two ports until the early 2000s, when the ship was chartered to the Military Sealift Command of the United States Navy. Under MSC charter, it carried vehicles and equipment to US military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ship was later transferred by TOTE to its subsidiary company Sea Star Lines and renamed El Faro. It then returned to coastwise liner service between Jacksonville, Forida and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Disappearance of El Faro
On September 29th, 2015, El Faro sailed from Jacksonville for San Juan on a routine voyage. At the time of departing Jacksonville, Hurricane Joaquin was still only a tropical storm and the vessel took a track to the north of the Bahamas Chain. This track may have been intended to keep the ship in the safe semicircle of the circulation and pass to the south of the eye. By October 1st, however, the ship was steaming straight for the eye. At approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT, the master reportedly held a conversation over satellite communications with the management offices of the owners. The exact content of the conversation is not yet available to the public, but the United States Coast Guard has reported that the master reported some flooding which had been stopped, but which has left the vessel with a 15 degree list. The master also reported a loss of propulsion, but it is unknown what caused it, or whether propulsion was regained. After that conversation, it appears that the ship's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated, whose signal was received by the USCG in Portsmouth, VA. This signal prompted the USCG to contact the vessel owners, who informed them of the ship's reported condition. Subsequent attempts by the USCG to open communications with El Faro since October 1st have been unsuccessful.
On October 1st, NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft made attempts to locate El Faro without result. Beginning on Friday, October 2nd the USCG commenced a dedicated search for the ship with HC-130 aircraft which continued on Saturday October 3rd, with additional resources, including helicopters, cutters, and commercial tugboats. On that date, a life ring belonging to El Faro was recovered 70 miles northeast of the last known location of the ship. On the morning of Sunday, October 4th, the search was resumed.
References
- ^ "El Faro". Marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ "El Faro". Vesselfinder.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Two days later, with Joaquin now a category 4 hurricane, the vessel ceased all communications with shore and was declared missing on October 2nd.CNN reports 4 October 2015
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