Ship tracking data revealed that the doomed U.S.-flagged cargo ship, El Faro, descended below the sea due to Hurricane Joaquin, more specifically by the hilly waves and ruthless winds it encountered while it sailed at almost full speed.
The data raised questions regarding a claim made by the owner of the vessel, that the captain had devised a "sound plan" to sail around the ocean "with a margin of comfort" while Hurricane Joaquin was out in full force, to which mariners have said in interviews that they never would have dared to go attempt.
The ship tracking data also revealed that the ship deviated from its standard passage, with the ship going nearer to the Bahamas instead of its normal route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, 10 hours after it left the shores of Jacksonville, Fla. on Sept. 30 at around 6 a.m., according to Reuters.
The vessel was on its way to the Puerto Rican city but lost its power around 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 with 33 people, including 28 Americans and five Polish nationals, on board.
The U.S. Coast Guard began a search for the ill-fated vessel after it had received a distress call. Two Air Force C-130 Hurricane Hunter crews were sent to find El Faro over the weekend, but to no avail. Efforts to contact the vessel have also been futile, as HNGN previously reported.
On Sunday, the rescuers were able to find a debris field in the spot near the Bahamas where the ship was believed to have sunk. The coast guard ended the search for the missing crew members on Wednesday.