Spills · collision

Container ship el faro; 35 nm ne of crooked islands, bahamas

NOAAORR-9184

issued
2015-10-05 00:00Z
status
cancelled 2015-10-19 00:00Z
self-cancels
2015-10-19 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Atlantic Ocean
position
23.120, -73.290
vessel
CONTAINER SHIP EL FARO · 3 messages
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Container Ship El Faro; 35 NM NE of Crooked Islands, Bahamas.
35 NM NE of Crooked Islands, Bahamas.
1. On October 05, 2015, 7th Coast Guard District contacted the NOAA SSC regarding a possible sunken container ship, the El Faro Monday, which is believed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin. While searching in the vicinity of the ship's last known position 35 nautical miles northeast of Crooked Islands, Bahamas, the Coast Guard located a deceased person in a survival suit in the water. A heavily damaged life boat with markings consistent with those on board the El Faro, a partially submerged life raft, life jackets, life rings, cargo containers and an oil sheen were also located by Coast Guard aircrews within a 225 square nautical mile search area. Search and rescue operations continue. Coast Guard has requested assistance with trajectory assessment for potential oil spill associated with sunken vessel.
2. THREAT: OIL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 273000 GALLONS. TAGS: COLLISION.
3. POSITION 23.120N 073.290W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 9184: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/9184

This area · spills & pollution incidents

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