'I'm a goner': El Faro's last hours as ship sails into storm

[jpak]

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2017/04/12/im-goner-el-faros-last-hours-ship-sails-storm/2111005

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Danielle Randolph squinted through rain-splattered windows as the sea freighter lunged upward sharply, then fell into the trough of a 30-foot-tall wave. The skies were black. The second mate stood on the navigation bridge high above the El Faro's main deck, which spread out before her like an aircraft carrier stacked high with red, white and blue cargo containers.

This March 21, 2010 photo provided by William Van Dorp shows the El Faro cargo ship docked in Baltimore. The story of the ship's final hours was reconstructed using thousands of pages of public documents, hours of testimony before the U.S. Coast Guard's investigative board and interviews with crew family members and maritime experts. The El Faro went down on Oct. 1, 2015, as it sailed in Hurricane Joaquin near San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. (Will Van Dorp via AP)

News blurted through the bridge's radio speaker: Forecasters had named the storm Hurricane Joaquin as it built into a Category 3, with winds of 130 mph. "Oh my God," she said to the helmsman standing nearby, bracing when the ship she called "the rust bucket" shuddered over another wave.

"Can't pound your way through them waves. Break the ship in half," the helmsman said.

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[chia]

1. Thank you for this. Chilling.

A gripping account of El Faro's last hours. What heroes.

They shouldn't have to have been forced into showing what they were made of. Not then. Not for that.

Shame on TOTE. They have blood on their hands.

[cwydro]

2. I remember that.

Thanks for posting.

A gripping story. And so heartbreaking.

[n2doc]

3. Horrendous

Those poor sailors.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Can't help but think of a prior ship when I hear about the El Faro

[jpak]

5. A young man from my hometown in Maine went down with El Faro

Many of the crew were Mainers and graduates of Maine Maritime Academy.

It hit us hard.

[crazycatlady]

7. Same with my mom's hometown in Maine

I drove through there about a month after to see my grandmother and there were still signs of mourning in the town.

[jpak]

8. There are sill signs up in my hometown

We share our grief up here...

[crazycatlady]

9. I haven't been up htere since

I'm not sure what is still up or not.

(My mom's hometown's in Franklin County)

[jpak]

11. Yup we are stlll "strong"

[malaise]

6. I remember this well

Still can't believe they sent that ship and her crew out in that weather

[mountain grammy]

10. Thanks for posting

"Yes, I know," Randolph replied. "Mom, if I ever die at sea, that's where I want to be."

sad story.