El Faro crew apparently dismissive of hurricane danger

Much of the news in our intermodal industry doesn’t immediately send a person clicking to read more, unless you’re captivated by topics like opening logistics subsidiaries in Myanmar or that Los Angeles-Long Beach terminal automation is a necessity for growth there. However, a big story in the shipping industry that captured worldwide attention last fall still lingers, as news that officers of the ill-fated freighter El Faro that sank en route to Puerto Rico knew of the coming presence of Hurricane Joaquin but were not overly concerned about its danger.

According to the ship pilot who assisted the El Faro exiting the port of Jacksonville (Fla.) on Oct. 1, 2015, El Faro captain Michael Davidson said, “We’re just going to go out and shoot under it.”

Those remarks, recently recited at the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Coast Guard hearings on the matter, were uttered by Davidson on the bridge of the El Faro as it prepared to leave nearshore waters for the open sea bound for San Juan. The ship lost power and foundered just east of the Crooked Islands, sinking three miles deep and losing all 33 of its officers and crew.

Of keen interest is the high expectation of retrieving the “black box,” which investigators hope will reveal much more of the fated freighter’s encounter that day along with its final moments. But the recovery operation is both delicate and expensive and likely could take months. The El Faro, at 40 years old, was twice the age that most ships retire.

We hope final resolution for all concerned with the El Faro comes soon. Here, in Collierville, Tennessee, there is a facility strategically placed in the No. 1 distribution center of America that offers a variety of equipment and gets it out fast, supplying the local Mid-South with rental containers accommodating an array of storage needs.

We’re MidSouth Container Sales. And we pride ourselves on being the leading rental business in the Mid-South, satisfying our customers’ needs in every aspect of the business. Call, come by, or visit us on the Web and on Facebook. And ask about our free mobile app! It’ll GPS you to our location and put you in one-touch calling with us. No more phone numbers, website, or email addresses to save or remember. It’s convenience like never before, and it’s all in our free app. Our help is on the way!