"Winds are super bad. Love to everyone."
April 14, 2017 5:21 AM Subscribe
'I'M A GONER': El Faro's last hours as ship sails into storm. Jason Dearen has written a gripping long-form investigation of bad decisions, corporate greed, maritime culture, and human tragedy aboard the doomed cargo ship El Faro for AP News.
Once, Randolph texted pictures of El Faro's lifeboats to her mom.
"Is that your lifeboat? It's open," her mom replied, aghast. A coastal Mainer, Laurie Bobillot knew open life boats to be a thing of the past. "Let's hope you never get into some rough seas," she wrote, "because you know kid, you're screwed."
"Yes, I know," Randolph replied. "Mom, if I ever die at sea, that's where I want to be."
Posted because I thought this was fabulous journalism! Some great photos too.
Once, Randolph texted pictures of El Faro's lifeboats to her mom.
"Is that your lifeboat? It's open," her mom replied, aghast. A coastal Mainer, Laurie Bobillot knew open life boats to be a thing of the past. "Let's hope you never get into some rough seas," she wrote, "because you know kid, you're screwed."
"Yes, I know," Randolph replied. "Mom, if I ever die at sea, that's where I want to be."
Posted because I thought this was fabulous journalism! Some great photos too.
Heartbreaking. Thank you for posting.
posted by cass at 8:30 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by cass at 8:30 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Horrifying. Thanks for the post.
posted by languagehat at 8:49 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by languagehat at 8:49 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't think I've ever had my heart beat so fast from something that wasn't an oncoming tornado or other physical threat.
posted by congen at 9:00 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by congen at 9:00 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nicely written article about a horrible and needless tragedy. When I get angry at capitalism and corporations, this is the kind of thing I get really worked up about...a needless tragedy all so some executive somewhere can get a big bonus. How is it even possible that a ship is allowed to sail with the issues this vessel had, least of all the idea that it was getting its weather reports via email?
posted by maxwelton at 9:01 AM on April 14, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 9:01 AM on April 14, 2017 [8 favorites]
My husband always says we don't put signals at RR crossings until somebody dies.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 9:47 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 9:47 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
TOTE Maritime who just get named in passing have been given a pretty big pass in this article; as have the regulatory authorities.
Just so you know who can be held untimately responsible for sending an unprepared and unseaworthy vessel into a hurricane here they are - Leadership - TOTE Maritime. I hope they sleep uneasy tonight and every night.
Here is an open letter by Captain John Loftus, a Master Mariner and acclaimed whistleblower with 42 years experience aboard American flagged ships, to Captain Jason Neubauer, Chief of the U.S. Coast Gaurd’s Office of Investigations & Analysis about the Investigation into this avoidable accident: -
"...My very first reaction, and my interpretation, to that statement, was they (TOTE) were setting up the Master as scapegoat for what may be underlying problems, possibly not so noticeable, particularly for those outside the industry."....
....Numerous regulations are in place to keep ships and the crews safe. The problem lies in the oversight of the regulations.....
...As in most of Corporate America, there is a drive for profits at almost any cost.....
(Disclaimer: 40 years in Maritime employment, at sea and shore based management).
posted by adamvasco at 10:40 AM on April 14, 2017 [18 favorites]
Just so you know who can be held untimately responsible for sending an unprepared and unseaworthy vessel into a hurricane here they are - Leadership - TOTE Maritime. I hope they sleep uneasy tonight and every night.
Here is an open letter by Captain John Loftus, a Master Mariner and acclaimed whistleblower with 42 years experience aboard American flagged ships, to Captain Jason Neubauer, Chief of the U.S. Coast Gaurd’s Office of Investigations & Analysis about the Investigation into this avoidable accident: -
"...My very first reaction, and my interpretation, to that statement, was they (TOTE) were setting up the Master as scapegoat for what may be underlying problems, possibly not so noticeable, particularly for those outside the industry."....
....Numerous regulations are in place to keep ships and the crews safe. The problem lies in the oversight of the regulations.....
...As in most of Corporate America, there is a drive for profits at almost any cost.....
(Disclaimer: 40 years in Maritime employment, at sea and shore based management).
posted by adamvasco at 10:40 AM on April 14, 2017 [18 favorites]
It was the worst maritime disaster for a U.S.-flagged vessel since 1983.
That was the sinking of MV Marine Electric. Horrendous avoidable incident made worse before and after by greed, malfeasance, negligence, and (of course) cover-ups.
Survivor first-hand account
Book
Lessons learned
Survivor, twenty five years on
My brother-in-law was aboard. Didn't get to see his sons grow up, but his second grandchild was born just yesterday.
posted by Herodios at 11:17 AM on April 14, 2017 [34 favorites]
That was the sinking of MV Marine Electric. Horrendous avoidable incident made worse before and after by greed, malfeasance, negligence, and (of course) cover-ups.
Survivor first-hand account
Book
Lessons learned
Survivor, twenty five years on
My brother-in-law was aboard. Didn't get to see his sons grow up, but his second grandchild was born just yesterday.
posted by Herodios at 11:17 AM on April 14, 2017 [34 favorites]
That link Leadership - TOTE Maritime takes you to TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico.
This link brings up the listing of TOTE Inc's executive team
However, going down the rabbit hole...TOTE, Inc is a division of Saltchuk.
posted by Mister Bijou at 11:47 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
This link brings up the listing of TOTE Inc's executive team
However, going down the rabbit hole...TOTE, Inc is a division of Saltchuk.
posted by Mister Bijou at 11:47 AM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I recently read John McPhee's book Looking for a Ship, which is about the merchant marine. If you're interested in this story, you might enjoy Looking for a Ship, which gives a really good history of the merchant marine and a lot of insight into its modern incarnation. It gives a broader context to a single story about why a poorly-maintained ship might sail, and the kinds of motivations and pressures that lead captains and crews to risky, sometimes deadly, decisions. Being McPhee, it has a lot of interesting people's stories along the way.
posted by Orlop at 12:10 PM on April 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Orlop at 12:10 PM on April 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
Tough story to read.
Right now I'm wondering if the ship was or was not safe enough at the time. If they had taken that different course, they might possibly have made it through....?
The open lifeboats, and not having the modern survival crafts, are inexcusable faults. We allow companies to run bigger and bigger ships with smaller crews; the very least the companies could do is provide for the safety of these smaller crews.
posted by Artful Codger at 12:12 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Right now I'm wondering if the ship was or was not safe enough at the time. If they had taken that different course, they might possibly have made it through....?
The open lifeboats, and not having the modern survival crafts, are inexcusable faults. We allow companies to run bigger and bigger ships with smaller crews; the very least the companies could do is provide for the safety of these smaller crews.
posted by Artful Codger at 12:12 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Coincidentally, I just listened to episode five of Alexis Madrigal's 8-part audio documentary podcast Containers this morning, which covers this tragedy in its first half and then zooms out to the American shipping industry and the Jones Act in general in the second half. The whole series up to now is well worth a listen. I'm interested in shipping and logistics anyway, but its interspersed with human stories about the people who are in and affected by the global shipping industry.
posted by borsboom at 2:49 PM on April 14, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by borsboom at 2:49 PM on April 14, 2017 [10 favorites]
May we who are safe on land ever remember the many who go down to the sea in ships, and may those in peril contact with something of comfort.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 3:50 PM on April 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 3:50 PM on April 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
.
posted by egypturnash at 5:48 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by egypturnash at 5:48 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
This was a great post, and adamvasco thank you for linking to that captain's open letter. I am just so incredibly, overwhelmingly saddened by all of this. This egregious corporate oligarchy that runs every fucking goddamned industry in this country. Anything, ANYTHING for more growth, higher profit, better shareholder return, more money more money more money MORE MORE MORE MORE.
It's absolutely fucking evil and time and again precisely the root cause of so goddamned many shortcuts and oversights and rule-skirting and intimidation. And that these tragedies never take out the Exec VPs of Operations or the COOs or the Executive Board members or anyone who really is to blame is even more fucking unjust. No, they take the very lives of real people, Joe and Jane Citizen who are just trying, desperately, to keep a job, put food on their table and maybe even get the electric bill current.
Jesus christ. How the fuck did we get here. It just makes me want to cry and scream.
posted by bologna on wry at 5:52 PM on April 14, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's absolutely fucking evil and time and again precisely the root cause of so goddamned many shortcuts and oversights and rule-skirting and intimidation. And that these tragedies never take out the Exec VPs of Operations or the COOs or the Executive Board members or anyone who really is to blame is even more fucking unjust. No, they take the very lives of real people, Joe and Jane Citizen who are just trying, desperately, to keep a job, put food on their table and maybe even get the electric bill current.
Jesus christ. How the fuck did we get here. It just makes me want to cry and scream.
posted by bologna on wry at 5:52 PM on April 14, 2017 [7 favorites]
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posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 6:45 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 6:45 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
What're some good books about ships going down in storms?
posted by gucci mane at 8:56 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 8:56 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I wondered where the dialog in the article came from. I learned there is bridge audio in the recovered voyage data recorder. The recording has a poor signal to noise ratio so I assume some of the dialog was filled in to make the story.
A gcaptain article was referenced above. I have found this site to be very useful. I recommend searching for el faro on gcaptain :
http://gcaptain.com/search/
posted by llc at 9:44 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
A gcaptain article was referenced above. I have found this site to be very useful. I recommend searching for el faro on gcaptain :
http://gcaptain.com/search/
posted by llc at 9:44 PM on April 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
This was a great post, and adamvasco thank you for linking to that captain's open letter. I am just so incredibly, overwhelmingly saddened by all of this. This egregious corporate oligarchy that runs every fucking goddamned industry in this country.
Trust me, small family owned boats and fleets are MUCH worse. Save your outrage for where it's really needed, which is lack of money for the Coasties to carry out inspections and enforce them.
posted by fshgrl at 10:10 PM on April 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trust me, small family owned boats and fleets are MUCH worse. Save your outrage for where it's really needed, which is lack of money for the Coasties to carry out inspections and enforce them.
posted by fshgrl at 10:10 PM on April 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
What're some good books about ships going down in storms?
Tall Ships Down is the classic for the tall ship world. (Written before Bounty went down. The coast guard report on that is horrible to read but offers an excellent analysis on what went wrong.)
posted by kalimac at 5:27 AM on April 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
Tall Ships Down is the classic for the tall ship world. (Written before Bounty went down. The coast guard report on that is horrible to read but offers an excellent analysis on what went wrong.)
posted by kalimac at 5:27 AM on April 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
Another classic is Walter Lord's A Night to Remember (1956), on the sinking of the Titanic. Dated, sure, but gripping and expertly told with a ton of eye-witness testimony.
If you can only spare time for something shorter-form, William Langewiesche's "A Sea Story," The Atlantic (May 2004), on the sinking of the MS Estonia in 1994, is as gripping and sad as the linked article.
posted by Sonny Jim at 9:22 AM on April 15, 2017 [5 favorites]
If you can only spare time for something shorter-form, William Langewiesche's "A Sea Story," The Atlantic (May 2004), on the sinking of the MS Estonia in 1994, is as gripping and sad as the linked article.
posted by Sonny Jim at 9:22 AM on April 15, 2017 [5 favorites]
Erik Larson's Dead Wake on the sinking of the Lusitania.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:36 AM on April 15, 2017
posted by nathan_teske at 10:36 AM on April 15, 2017
The Perfect Storm is a good book. The Godforsaken Seas is also good, about yacht racing.
posted by fshgrl at 11:44 AM on April 15, 2017
posted by fshgrl at 11:44 AM on April 15, 2017
What're some good books about ships going down in storms?
Nathanial Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" is a great book. The actual sinking was due to an angry whale, but there some rough weather causing problems earlier in the trip. Also - not so much the "ship sinking" as the aftermath - Steve Callahan's story of drifting across much of the Atlantic for over 2 months in a liferaft, "Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea"
And related but not quite about ships going down in storms, "A Voyage for Madmen" is a great book about the first round the world non-stop sailboat race and it includes some gripping stories of things going amuck.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:31 PM on April 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nathanial Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" is a great book. The actual sinking was due to an angry whale, but there some rough weather causing problems earlier in the trip. Also - not so much the "ship sinking" as the aftermath - Steve Callahan's story of drifting across much of the Atlantic for over 2 months in a liferaft, "Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea"
And related but not quite about ships going down in storms, "A Voyage for Madmen" is a great book about the first round the world non-stop sailboat race and it includes some gripping stories of things going amuck.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:31 PM on April 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hoo boy...I'm pretty sure there was an FPP about "A Sea Story" when it was originally published, and to this day it's still one of the most harrowing things I've ever read.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:48 PM on April 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:48 PM on April 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
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