More debris but no word on fate of ship lost off Bahamas

HAMILTON, Bermuda – Bermuda was getting lashed Sunday by gusting winds and pelting rains from a weakening Hurricane Joaquin as its spinning centre tracked just southwest of the wealthy financial haven and tourist destination after plowing through the Bahamas as a major storm.

The NHC said that swells generated by Joaquin were still affecting the Bahamas, where homes were destroyed and residents were left without power or phone services after the hurricane tore past.

“We know they’re disabled”, Fedor said. She said the crews searched near the Bahamas on Thursday and Friday for the El Faro.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and their families”, Nolan said.

Hurricane Joaquin’s outer bands were sweeping across Bermuda on Sunday morning.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said that elevated water levels and big waves from Joaquin will affect the US mid-Atlantic region, “causing significant beach and dune erosion with moderate coastal flooding likely”.

The storm became a hurricane at about 8 a.m. Wednesday, Mr. Feltgen said. “The crew is also trained on preventing flooding and different emergency settings to better help themselves because the sea is a very unforgiving place”, Nash said.

“The fact that there has been no communications is not good news”, Lloyd said.

The U.S. Coast Guard previously saved 12 sailors who were forced to abandon a sinking cargo ship late Thursday, hoisting them into a helicopter from a life raft in churning waters off northwest Haiti.

El Faro was one of six cargo ships to depart from Jacksonville’s port on Wednesday, according to VesselTracker. “At this time there has been no sighting of the El Faro or any life boats”.

Another ship got caught in the storm, but it was rescued.

MIAMI – Coast Guard search and rescue crews have located multiple objects in the water in the search area for the El Faro.

On Sunday afternoon, The Associated Press reported that rescuers had spotted floating debris and an oil sheen as US crews continue an intensive search off the southeastern Bahamas for the El Faro, the USA cargo ship. The vessel had also reported that it was listing due to weather conditions but it was “manageable”, the company said. Ro-ro is a slang reference to roll-on, roll-off vessels like El Faro, which are typically loaded with cars and industrial equipment. “So really, they’re just moving along with the force of the storm”.

Greene said the El Faro has been in service for many years and was built to work in the rough seas off Alaska. But now, more and more executives around the world are choosing to take on lengthy commutes on a permanent basis, even if their jobs don’t demand it. Increasing globalization and tech-enabled workplace flexibility are certainly part of the reason why.

TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico said a contracted tugboat and another of its ships had found a container that appears to be from the El Faro.

The life ring, found about 75 miles northeast of the roll-on, roll-off container ship’s last known position was spotted by a Coast Guard C-130 and recovered by an MH-60 helicopter. Family and friends of the crew gathered at the local Seafarers union hall to hear updates from officials with the Coast Guard and TOTE, Inc., the company that owns and operates the ship.

“I had one farmer tell me this is like getting all of your cash assets, put them on a clothesline, waiting for the wind to blow them away”, he said.