Today marks 10 years since the loss of the U.S.-flagged containership El Faro. On Oct. 1, 2015, the vessel was lost in the Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Joaquin, taking all 33 crew members with her.
For those of us who cover this industry, the sinking of the El Faro is not just another headline or accident report. It is a painful reminder of the risks mariners face every time they set out, and of the families who wait for them to come home. A decade later, the loss still feels raw.
The 40-year-old roll-on/roll-off and container ship left Jacksonville, Fla., bound for Puerto Rico as Joaquin gathered strength in the Atlantic. On the morning of Oct. 1, the storm had intensified into a Category 3 hurricane. At 7:30 a.m., Capt. Michael Davidson reported the ship was taking on water and had lost propulsion. That was the last anyone heard from her.
The NTSB investigation later concluded the sinking was not only the work of nature but the result of cascading failures in judgment, procedure, and oversight. Davidson’s decision to press near Joaquin, reliance on outdated weather data, and ineffective bridge resource management left the vessel exposed. Crew concerns went unheeded.
Technical breakdowns sealed El Faro’s fate. Flooding entered through an unsecured scuttle. Loss of lubrication oil pressure shut down the main engine. Without propulsion, the ship was helpless in winds topping 100 mph and seas over 30'. The open-style lifeboats on board offered little hope in such conditions.
The wreck was later found 15,000' below the surface. The recovery of the ship’s voyage data recorder gave investigators a window into the crew’s final hours, revealing professionalism and resolve even as options disappeared.
For families, the loss is deeply personal. For the industry, El Faro’s sinking spurred reforms in marine safety. Ten years later, the name El Faro, “the lighthouse,” stands as both a memorial and a warning.
