In A Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger writes “There are houses in Gloucester where grooves have been worn into the floorboards by women pacing past an upstairs window, looking out to sea.” Today a lot of people are wearing out keyboards searching for news on El Faro. Others are out in the still stormy aftermath of the hurricane, looking for contact. Wishes and prayers and hopes swirl through the air as well.
this photo and the next four . . . taken in Baltimore in March 2010
The next four photos show El Morro, sister ship, arriving in San Juan in March 2013. Note the splash in lower center left in the photo above; that’s the pilot boat delivering the pilot on this stormy morning two years ago.
Here she arrives in the port of San Juan.
All photos were taken by Will Van Dorp, who prays for strength and safety for all who need it today.
Click here for info on vessel owner, TOTE Maritime, a Saltchuk company.
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October 3, 2015 at 11:28 am
William Lafferty
For those who might want some basic information on this vessel, here’s what I posted yesterday elsewhere:
Puerto Rico 561732/IMO 7395351. Steel single screw vehicle (trailer) carrier. Launched 1 November 1974 at Chester, Pennsylvania, by the Sun SB & DD Co as hull no. 670 for the Puerto Rico Maritime Shipping Authority, San Juan, PR. 653.4 x 92.8 x 34.9; 14770 gt, 8928 nt. Two cylinder (HP/LP) steam turbine, built 1975 by General Electric Company, 30000 shp; twin water tube boilers, 27690 sq ft heating surface, built 1975 by Babcock & Wilcox Company. Lengthened and new midbody 1993 by Alabama Shipyard, Inc., Mobile, Alabama: 736.8 x 92 x 42.1; 17527 gt, 11399 nt. Sold 1991 to Totem Trailer Express, Inc., Seattle, and renamed Northern Lights. Sold 2006 to Sea Star Line LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, and renamed El Faro.
October 3, 2015 at 11:54 am
mageb
She still looks like she has a aircraft carrier hull.
October 3, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Jan van der Doe
The sea gives and the sea takes.
October 3, 2015 at 3:21 pm
tugster
A website has been established for info: http://elfaroincident.com
October 3, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Jim Gallant
My hopes and prayers for the crew’s safe return.
October 4, 2015 at 7:05 pm
BevMarie (@evenbev)
In Solvaer, Norway there is a large statue in the harbor of a woman looking out to sea. At first I thought she was waving, but when approaching closer, you see her hand is shading her eyes, as she searches and scans the horizon, a prayer and pleading on her face. I thought of her today.
October 4, 2015 at 8:59 pm
Jan van der Doe
Also in Scheveningen en Ijmuiden in the Netherlands find you those statutes
overlooking the sea waiting for their love ones.
October 16, 2015 at 7:55 am
tugster
adding to many tributes, read this piece by Allen Baker, frequent contributor to tugster: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-el-faro-20151012-story.html
May 22, 2017 at 9:10 am
Harry T Scholer
Will I forwarded this post to Frank Pusatere the father of Richard Pusatere Chief Engineer in El Faro at the time of the tragedy. Always enjoy your work, thank you. 5/22/17 National Maritime day
May 22, 2017 at 9:21 am
tugster
Thx, Harry.