The NTSB said Monday it is ending its search and documentation of El Faro, the cargo ship that sunk October 1 near the Bahamas, likely claiming the lives of all 33 on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not locate the ship’s data recorder, a critical part of the investigation into why she ship sank during its fateful run-in with Hurricane Joaquin. A Navy search team was able to locate the ship’s navigation bridge last week.
“While it is disappointing that the voyage data recorder was not located, we are hopeful that we’ll be able to determine the probable cause of this tragedy and the factors that may have contributed to it,” NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said.
Among the 33 on board, the remains of only one person have so far been recovered. Twenty-eight Americans are among those missing.