2nd hearings end on frigate’s sinking

A second round of U.S. Coast Guard investigative hearings into the sinking of the freighter El Faro ended Friday, closing a sometimes contentious proceeding during which the disaster was characterized by one investigator as “a colossal failure” of management before he apologized and took back the comment.

The testimony in Jacksonville, Fla., ended after two weeks, during which a National Transportation Safety Board investigator said “few would dispute” that the loss of the El Faro represented a management failure by Tote Services Inc., the company that owned and operated the vessel. A third round of hearings will be scheduled for later this year.

The 790-foot El Faro sank in 15,000 feet of water after losing propulsion while sailing to Puerto Rico from Jacksonville and getting caught in Hurricane Joaquin on Oct. 1. All 33 aboard died.

During Thursday’s session, the transportation agency’s lead investigator, Tom Roth-Roffy, asked Tote Executive Vice President Peter Keller to describe management failures that led to the ship’s loss.

“Now, sir, many would argue and few would dispute the loss of the ship El Faro and its cargo, and most importantly the loss of 33 souls aboard the El Faro, represents a colossal failure in the management of the companies responsible for the safe operation of the El Faro,” Roth-Roffy said.

Keller called the sinking “a tragic accident” and said Tote is looking to the board and the transportation agency to identify a cause.

On Friday, Roth-Roffy backpedaled, apologizing to Tote’s lawyers and saying the transportation agency had reached no conclusions in its investigation. He said he did not mean to accuse Tote’s management of errors.

“In hindsight I think my question could’ve been better phrased,” Roth-Roffy said.

Upcoming Events