Families of the 33 mariners who lost their lives aboard the El Faro saw photos and video of the wreck for the first time on Wednesday.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the Oct. 1 sinking of the 790’x95’ TOTE Maritime ro/ro containership in Hurricane Joaquin, set up a webinar for the victims families to view images taken by rescue and salvage crews.
Jacksonville, Fla. NBC affiliate First Coast News reporter Ken Amaro was invited by the family of crew member LaShawn Rivera to view the images. Amaro reported on the story, noting that only four of the 400 containers carried by the El Faro remained with the ship.
"Our families have often wondered, and it flashes in your mind, what it might have been like," Pastor Robert Green, Rivera's father, told Amaro. "That is certainly one of the most troubling of things as we try to find closure."
Amaro reported that the NTSB told families there were still months to go in the investigation. The agency’s most recent official public update on the El Faro came Nov. 16, when NTSB announced that it had completed documentation of the ship and debris field, and would suspend the search for the vessel’s missing voyage data recorder.
The wreck of the El Faro lies in about 15,000 feet of water in the vicinity of its last known position near Crooked Island, Bahamas.
More images of the El Faro wreck available at First Coast News.
