El Faro tragedy lessons

Aterrible incident is made all the more tragic by the knowledge it could have been prevented. Such was the case with the sinking of the cargo ship El Faro on Oct. 1, 2015, killing the crew of 33. This tragedy hit home.

Among those aboard was Mitchell Kuflik, 26, a graduate of Groton’s Fitch High School, who according to those who knew him had an adventurous spirit and, said his dad, “a strength to experience life courageously, fearlessly and fully.”

An officer aboard the El Faro, Kuflik had the training that comes with a degree from the Maine Maritime Academy. Sadly, his captain did not fulfill his responsibility to Kuflik and the rest of his crew.

After an exhaustive investigation, the Coast Guard released its report on the sinking Sunday, concluding Capt. Michael Davidson acted recklessly in navigating his 790-foot ship into Hurricane Joaquin and its 150 mph winds as the El Faro traveled from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Confronted with the storm’s strength, Davidson showed misplaced faith in the ability of the ship to handle the beating. In place of good seamanship, Davidson exercised bravado, telling other crew members in recorded communications that such conditions were routine in Alaska, where he had previously worked.

Davidson never activated a weather prediction system that would have provided him updates on the strength and movements of the hurricane.

The El Faro departed Jacksonville with less oil than recommended by the ship’s manufacturer. When the ship listed, the oil necessary to power its engines stopped reaching the pump. With the engines stalled, El Faro was at the mercy of the massive waves and sank.

As for training, investigators determined that safety drills were not taken seriously, leaving the crew ill-prepared when disaster struck.

The El Faro was equipped with open lifeboats, which even if deployed correctly would not have likely survived. The Coast Guard said it plans to recommend ships carry enclosed lifeboats. They should be required.

The panel also asks the National Hurricane Center to review its forecast notices for shipping lanes, though it appeared the captain had ample warning had he bothered to seek it out.

Our takeaway is that the fate of the El Faro provides a cautionary note to the captains of these massive ships not to allow hubris or the monotony of the routine to dull their appreciation for the dangers the sea presents.