Posted:
May 3, 2016
The following is excerpted from a media advisory released by the U.S. Coast Guard. The complete bulletin is available online.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a second round of public hearings for the Marine Board of Investigation into the loss of the United States-flagged steam ship EL FARO and its 33 crewmembers. The second hearing will focus on shipboard operations, cargo loading, lashing and stowage operations for the accident voyage while also examining the vessel's analysis of stability and weather conditions forecasted and encountered. In addition, the regulatory oversight for the EL FARO will be examined to determine the potential implications of that oversight on the accident voyage.
The third hearing (date to be determined) will examine additional elements of the investigation including crew witnesses, TOTE company officials and contents of the EL FARO's Voyage Data Recorder if it can be recovered and analyzed.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting its own investigation, will fully participate in the Marine Board of Investigation hearings.
Ground Rules for the EL FARO Hearing are:
Reporters may attend open sessions of the Marine Board, as may members of the public as long as they do not detract from the decorum of the proceedings or inhibit a witness's willingness to testify. The Coast Guard's policy is to permit expanded media coverage of marine casualty investigations; therefore, audio and video recordings are authorized.
U.S. Coast Guard announces second session of Marine Board of Investigation hearings on loss of El Faro
The following is excerpted from a media advisory released by the U.S. Coast Guard. The complete bulletin is available online.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard will conduct a second round of public hearings for the Marine Board of Investigation into the loss of the United States-flagged steam ship EL FARO and its 33 crewmembers. The second hearing will focus on shipboard operations, cargo loading, lashing and stowage operations for the accident voyage while also examining the vessel's analysis of stability and weather conditions forecasted and encountered. In addition, the regulatory oversight for the EL FARO will be examined to determine the potential implications of that oversight on the accident voyage.
The third hearing (date to be determined) will examine additional elements of the investigation including crew witnesses, TOTE company officials and contents of the EL FARO's Voyage Data Recorder if it can be recovered and analyzed.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting its own investigation, will fully participate in the Marine Board of Investigation hearings.
- What: Marine Board of Investigation
- When: Daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET, Monday, May 16 - Friday, May 27
- Where: Prime F. Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204
- The factors that contributed to the accident;
- Whether there is evidence that any act of misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence or willful violation of the law on the part of any licensed or certificated person contributed to the casualty; and
- Whether there is evidence that any Coast Guard personnel or any representative or employee of any other government agency or any other person caused or contributed to the casualty.
Ground Rules for the EL FARO Hearing are:
Reporters may attend open sessions of the Marine Board, as may members of the public as long as they do not detract from the decorum of the proceedings or inhibit a witness's willingness to testify. The Coast Guard's policy is to permit expanded media coverage of marine casualty investigations; therefore, audio and video recordings are authorized.