El Faro: The Clock is Ticking

Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and other great perks.

The sinking of the SS El Faro on October 1, 2015 was a devastating maritime disaster that occurred during Hurricane Joaquin. The American cargo ship, owned by TOTE Maritime, was en route from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it encountered the powerful hurricane, leading to a distress call reporting a hull breach and severe listing. All 33 crew members tragically lost their lives, prompting investigations that revealed a combination of factors, including decisions made by the captain, malfunctioning equipment, safety concerns, and maintenance issues, all contributing to the disaster. The sinking of El Faro was the worst US commercial shipping disaster since the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

Visit shipwrecksandseadogs.com for a photo gallery, suggested reading, transcript, and sources related to this episode.

Official Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise is available at shipwrecksandseadogs.com! Check it out, and help support the show.

Original theme music is by Sean Sigfried.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices