National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sent a team to Jacksonville to start an investigation into the El Faro sinking. NTSB said it will carry out an investigation separately from the US Coast Guard. Meanwhile, a TOTE Maritime executive says the ro-ro's master, Michael Davidson, aimed to pass in front of the path of the storm that would become Hurricane Joaquin but a "mechanical problem" struck. As a search for survivors continues, questions persist over why the US-flag ship headed into the path of a tropical storm at a time when it was predicted to become a hurricane. The US Coast Guard said yesterday that it believes the 5,330-lane-metre MV El Faro (built 1975) sank at its last known location, 35 nautical miles (67 kilometres) off Crooked Island.
Phil Greene, chief executive of the US shipowner's management arm, said Davidson was monitoring the storm for many days. "He had intentions of passing in front of the weather system with an adequate margin. Regrettably he suffered a mechanical problem with his main propulsion system which left him in the path of the storm. Greene said Davidson was a competent and highly qualified master who looked after the crew as his top priority. We place great faith and confidence in our captains’ voyage planning,"
Meanwhile, Monday's search efforts have not turned up any survivors. One body was found on Sunday.