El Faro memorial ceremony aboard ARC Independence

The officers and crew of the ARC Independence conducted an El Faro memorial ceremony and paid their respects on October 6 while transiting the general area where the ship sank on October 1, 2015 in Hurricane Joaquin. The wreath laid by the ARC Independence was hand-made by Third Mate Ragen Johnson from a variety of plants kept on the ship's bridge. Sailing aboard the ARC Independence at the time of the memorial were (in no particular order) Captain Nicholas Kalmukos, Chief Mate Dennis Bridgeman, Second Mate Kyle Comerford, Third Mate Ragen Johnson, Chief Engineer Joshua Kempf, First Assistant Engineer Ronald Heeman, Second A.E. Chase Whittemore, Third A.E. Orion Milazzo, Bosun Ronnie Hamilton, AB Joseph Murphy III, OS Jonathan Wright, OS Tavian Grant-Suggs, Oiler Shannon Peterson, Oiler Mark Dennison, Steward Nikia Stripling, Cook Louie Aceridano, and SA Renata Robinson. Not in the picture were Third Mate John Mcparland and AB Clifford Lattish II.

Photos courtesy of Captain Nicholas Kalmukos