Watch CBS News

Hearing Held To Determine What Led To El Faro Sinking

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- El Faro hearings. Tuesday, the US Coast Guard, along with the NTSB, called witnesses as they try to find out why the 790-foot freighter sank near the Bahamas, killing all 33 crew members---including one man with ties to Baltimore.

Mary Bubala has more.

"When I asked you about the stability of the vessel, who monitors the stability of the vessel, you mentioned that that's calculated by the Tote Maritime people?" asked one official.

The questioning got intense at times as the US Coast Guard investigates the worst US commercial maritime disaster in decades.

The hearings in Jacksonville, Florida, are looking into several aspects of the disaster---chief among them whether misconduct, negligence or shoddy safety inspections caused El Faro's demise.

The ship set sail on September 29, just as a powerful storm, Hurricane Joaquin, churned offshore. The ship's captain, Michael Davidson, attempted to outrun the storm but lost engine power and control of the ship.

The hearings uncovered that the captain emailed his superiors asking about changing the route that day.

Philip Morrell, vice president of Tote Services, told the panel it's not company policy for captains to ask permission about voyages or routes. Morrell said the email showed common courtesy by the captain, not evidence that management dictated the ship's route.

The storm overtook the aged vessel. Its remains were later discovered 15,000 feet deep in the Atlantic.

None of the victims' bodies were found, including Baltimore County native Frank Hamm.

CBS' 60 Minutes spoke with crew members' families, who have filed lawsuits against Tote Maritimes, the ship's owner.

"Why was a ship, 40 years old...why was it still being put in service?" asked one family member.

Tote Maritime has refused to comment on the allegations, citing the ongoing legal cases.

The Coast Guard hearings continue Wednesday.

The ship's data recorder, or "black box" has not been found. The NTSB is planning a second search for it soon.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.