It was quite a mystery, at first. How could a ship in this modern age steam straight into the eyewall of a hurricane — the most dangerous part — with an experienced captain in charge and just disappear? Yet that is exactly what happened to the El Faro, a 790-foot-long cargo ship and her crew of 33 people.
The El Faro left Jacksonville, Florida, on September 29, 2015, under clear, sunny skies and headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico. She had made the voyage numerous times before without incident. She was loaded down with about 294 cars, trucks and trailers below deck and 391 containers on the top deck. Sure, there was a tropical storm brewing in their track line, but Captain Davidson planned to go south of the storm to avoid any problems.
But by the next day, Tropical Storm Joaquin had been upgraded to Hurricane Joaquin, and by the morning of October 1, Hurricane Joaquin had been upgraded to a category 3. This meant that the ship likely encountered swells of 20 to 40 feet and winds over 92 mph as she neared the hurricane’s eyewall. Shortly after 7:30 a.m., all communication with land was lost and by October 2, the ship was declared missing.
Though an extensive search was mounted, searchers only recovered debris and a damaged lifeboat. They also spotted, but could not recover, an unidentifiable body. El Faro was declared sunk on October 5 and was not seen again until a month later, when the U.S. Navy conducted an underwater search with a submersible which sent back images of the El Faro on the ocean floor.
VOYAGE DATA RECORDER EVIDENCE
The mystery of the El Faro was not solved until nearly a year later when the ship’s voyage data recorder (VDR) was recovered. It was sitting on the ocean floor nearly three miles deep. It had been difficult to find because the top two decks of the ship had sheared off, including the bridge where the VDR was located, and were some distance away from the rest of the ship. They were able to retrieve 26 hours of recorded conversation from the six microphones on the ship’s bridge. Investigators were able to piece together exactly what happened in the hours before the El Faro made her grave on the ocean floor, a grave deeper than the Titanic’s.
The transcripts are heartbreaking to read. As the weather reports grew more dire by the hour, officers on the bridge tried to get the captain to change course, but he remained oblivious to their danger, until it was too late! Then, there was the crew’s mounting anxiety as they battled problems with the ship — flooding, a listing (tilting) ship, shifting cargo and finally the bow sinking below the waves, at which point all was lost. Here are a few excerpts from the transcripts which tell just how desperate things were in El Faro’s last hours.
Sept. 30, 6:41 a.m.: Captain Michael Davidson said, “Oh look at that red sky over there. ‘Red sky in the morn, sailors take warning.’ That is bright.” (This was the first clear warning that foul weather was ahead.)
Sept. 30, 7:01 a.m.: Course is adjusted slightly to keep their distance from Tropical Storm Joaquin.
Sept. 30, 8:31 a.m.: Captain Davidson said, “We’ll be about 60 miles south of the eye. It should be fine. We are gonna be fine — not should be — we are gonna be fine.” (This overconfidence never faltered until the very end.) God’s Word tells us, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
Sept. 30, 10:39 a.m.: Third Mate Jeremie Riehm tells Able Seaman 3 they are nearly “on a collision course” with the storm. (The crew was becoming increasingly aware of their imminent danger.)
Sept. 30, 3:28 p.m.: “Nobody in their right mind would be drivin’ into it,” commented Able Seaman 2. Second Mate Danielle Randolph responded with a sarcastic laugh, “We are. Yaaay.”
3:45 – 6:55 p.m.: Crew is heard discussing the storm. Someone asks Captain Davidson if there was a chance they could turn around, but he responds, “No, no, no,” and comments about how unpredictable and erratic the storm is. At 6:55 p.m., Chief Mate Shultz suggests adjusting their course further south, to which the captain agrees. (But the course adjustment was too little, and it would be the last one the captain would agree to.)
Sept. 30, 8:00 p.m.: Captain Davidson leaves the bridge and does not reappear again until 4:09 a.m., Oct. 1, the day they all perish.
Sept. 30, 11:13 p.m.: After hearing the latest hurricane forecast, Third Mate Riehm calls Captain Davidson and tells him that at 4:00 a.m. they will be 22 miles from the eye of the storm “with gusts to 120 and strengthening.” The Third Mate suggested turning south at 2:00 a.m. to put more distance between them and the storm. The suggested course change apparently was not authorized. (The officers and crew were now certain of their very real danger.)
Sept. 30, 11:26 p.m.: Third Mate Riehm tells Able Seaman 3 that the captain thinks they will be south of the storm by then and that the winds won’t be an issue. Fighting his instincts and good judgment, the Third Mate said, “I trust what he’s saying — it’s just, being 20 miles away from 100-knot winds — this doesn’t even sound right.”
Oct. 1, 1:20 a.m.: After hearing that Hurricane Joaquin was now upgraded to a category 3, Second Mate Randolph called the captain and suggested altering their course south. This second plea to change course was apparently not authorized — now their fate was truly sealed.
Oct. 1, 4:09 a.m.: Still completely oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, Captain Davidson arrives on the bridge and says, “Well, this is every day in Alaska. This is what it’s like.”
Oct. 1, 4:37 – 7:27 a.m.: Problems continue to mount. A list (tilt) affecting oil levels in the oil room ... flooding in Hold 3 ... El Faro loses propulsion ... water sloshing, coming in through the ventilation system ... distress message sent ... Chief Mate Shultz says water level is rising, “cars bobbing around” in Hold 3 ... Captain Davidson gives the command to ring the ship’s alarm.
Oct. 1, 7:29 a.m.: Second Mate Randolph yelled about cargo containers in the water and Captain Davidson gave the command to ring the abandon ship alarm. (Just 10 more minutes on the VDR.)
Oct. 1, 7:30 a.m.: Captain Davidson said, “The bow is down.”
Oct. 1, 7:31 – 7:39 a.m.: Captain Davidson orders life rafts in the water and says, “Everybody ... get off the ship, stay together.” But by now, it was too late, too late! Because of the list, Able Seaman 1 was stuck on the bridge and yelled for help. His feet were slipping, and he asked for a ladder or a rope. Captain Davidson could be heard encouraging him and telling him that he wasn’t going to be left behind. Then ... there is the noise of a growing rumble, and the recording ends.
But though the VDR made clear what had happened, it didn’t explain why the captain sailed his ship into clearly foretold and obvious danger. Captain Davidson had been a captain for 10 years, and he knew that the El Faro was 40 years old. She had been “grandfathered” in by the Coast Guard and did not carry modern, closed lifeboats. Not only did he underestimate the storm’s strength and the ship’s ability to get through it, but also he had waited too long to muster the crew to abandon ship.
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE
Most troubling of all — why didn’t Captain Davidson listen to his officers? They knew they were heading straight for Hurricane Joaquin, which eventually turned into a Category 4, with winds of over 150 mph. It turns out that he placed the utmost confidence in a desktop weather service, Bon Voyage Service, which updated through emails. The only problem was that they provided information that was six hours behind what the National Hurricane Center sent the bridge! Unfortunately, his unshakable faith in this outdated service cost him and 32 other people their lives.
Oh, those poor, poor people! One can only imagine their terror as they fought to preserve their lives before they slipped into eternity. God’s Word tells us that when we die, we end up in either heaven or hell. It also tells us that we are all sinners, and because of this we are not worthy to enter God’s holy presence. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on Calvary’s cross to bear the penalty of our sins. The way of salvation is through faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for us.
Captain Davidson trusted an outdated weather service, and it cost 33 people their lives. His confidence had been misplaced! But Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father [God], but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). We must come to God His way and accept His gift of salvation. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). There is only ONE way to get to heaven, and it is by the grace of God alone, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Captain Davidson’s crew tried to warn him. They tried to get him to change course away from danger and death, but he thought he knew better. He didn’t intend to sail into Hurricane Joaquin, but that is exactly what he did! What about you? Is your answer to God, “I’m a good person; I’m not that bad, really” or “I’ll do the best that I can!” or “I’ll live in sin a little longer and come in my own time and way!” or “It’s too easy, too simple and I just don’t believe any of it!” All of these are false beliefs that will send you into a lost eternity with the devil and his angels.
GOOD NEWS
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [what more could He have done for you?], that whosoever [whoever will] believeth in Him should not perish [that’s hell], but have everlasting life [that’s heaven]. For God sent not His Son [Jesus] into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” World here means humankind and to be saved means to not perish in hell. This is what we all need, and it is good news! “He that believeth on Him is not condemned [found guilty]: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-1816For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16‑18)). Those who believe and put their faith in Jesus are found NOT GUILTY before God; those who do not believe in Jesus are GUILTY ALREADY before God!
LAST WARNING
Damages from the sinking were estimated at $36 million plus 33 irreplaceable lives. But the damage of rejecting Jesus as your Lord and Savior are irreparable and irrevocable. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth [rests] on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). Believing on the Son (Jesus) we have life eternal; it is something that cannot be taken away from us! To not believe is to be under the wrath (judgment) of God already! What will your choice be? In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, in the last chapter in verse 17, God gives one last call to sinners that are searching for eternal life and salvation. “Let him that is athirst [spiritually thirsty] come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Jesus is the water of life — put your faith and trust in Him today, while you still have time.
Lost in the Pacific offers more lessons from the sea.