As El Faro Search Ends, Family Of Baltimore Crew Member Remains Hopeful

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- The search for 33 survivors, including a Baltimore man, is suspended after a 790-foot cargo ship disappears during Hurricane Joaquin.

The search ended Wednesday evening and the family member of a Baltimore native on board says they're holding out hope he's alive.

WJZ's Christie Ileto has more.

After six days officials have come up empty in the search for the missing U.S. cargo ship, El Faro.

The U.S. Coast Guard found only debris and the unidentifiable remains of a crew member, but no signs of life.

"I don't know why they didn't just steer the ship in a different direction," said one relative.

It's a question, Baltimore-native Rochelle Hamm, has been asking for days. Her husband Frank is one of 33 on board, the family calls the suspended search a set back.

"It basically sends the message they went to a search and rescue, to maybe a recovery. They are not thinking they're going to find survivors," said Gordon Outlaw, relative of one of the missing members.

Ileto: "Are you hopeful Frank is still out there?

"Yes, I think we're hopeful," Outlaw said.

Now the prime focus is finding the ship, and its recorders, which might detail what forced it off the grid.

"If and when the ship is located--we hope--then we'll discuss what's the best way of obtaining things," an NTSB official said,

Like the voyage data recorder which tracks the ships course and speed.

The Coast Guard believes the 790-foot cargo ship, sunk thousands of feet too deep to detect the VDR's signal.

Ileto: "Do you think the family will ever have closure if nothing is found?

Outlaw says "I think it's going to be very difficult, it could be a very long time."

Still family members hold out hope that signs of life, will surface.

The NTSB says the VDR recorder has a battery life span of 30 days.

The ships last known location was about 40 miles north east of the Crooked Islands.