Search team finds 'black box' from sunken El Faro ship

The black box from the doomed cargo ship El Faro, which sank last October during Hurricane Joaquin, was located early Tuesday after a months-long search, according to US authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a statement that the data recorder was located in 15,000 feet of water, about 41 miles (36 nautical miles) northeast of Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bahamas. The El Faro sank when it was caught by Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, killing its entire crew of 33 people, mostly Americans and five Poles. The device was found at about 1 am (0500 GMT) by a team from the NTSB and US Coast Guard among other investigators and scientists, using remotely operated undersea search equipment. "Finding an object about the size of a basketball almost three miles under the surface of the sea is a remarkable achievement," said NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart. Officials said the type of recorder used by the El Faro is capable of recording conversations and sounds on the ship's navigation bridge, which could provide investigators with important evidence as they try to unravel what caused the tragic sinking. The El Faro, in operation for four decades and measuring 790 feet (240 meters) long, was transporting several hundred shipping containers and automobiles from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The families of 10 sailors who died in the tragedy accepted a settlement of $500,000 each, while families of the remaining victims have filed complaints with TOTE Maritime, the owner of the vessel.