MIAMI – Coast Guard crews continue searching for possible survivors from the cargo ship El Faro Monday, which is believed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin.
While searching in the vicinity of the ship's last known position 35 nautical miles northeast of Crooked Islands, Bahamas, the Coast Guard located a deceased person in a survival suit in the water.
A heavily damaged life boat with markings consistent with those on board the El Faro was also located. Additional items located include a partially submerged life raft, life jackets, life rings, cargo containers and an oil sheen were located by Coast Guard aircrews within a 225 square nautical mile search area.
Multiple crews continue to search for survivors from the El Faro. Assets involved in the search include:
- Two Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
- Two Navy P-8 fixed wing airplanes
- One Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
- Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia
- Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton, a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in Key West, Florida.
- Three commercial tugboats
Sea and weather conditions during today’s search include one-foot seas and 15 knots winds with unrestricted visibility.
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