All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S02E01.Storm.Watch.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

THE LOSS OF
A MAMMOTH CONTAINER SHIP

BAFFLES INVESTIGATORS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST
QUESTIONS WE HAD WAS

WHY WAS THIS SHIP SO CLOSE
TO THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE?

THE SEARCH
FOR ANSWERS TAKES THEM

TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
WHAT'S THAT?

I HONESTLY COULDN'T
BELIEVE WHAT WE WERE SEEING.

THREE-FIVE-ZERO!

WHY DID
AN EXPERIENCED CREW...

DAMN IT!

END UP
ON A DEADLY COURSE?

RING THE ABANDON SHIP!

AND
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN

TO TIP THEM OVER THE EDGE?

MY FEET ARE SLIPPING!

I'M GOING DOWN!

NO, YOU'RE
NOT, COME ON!

GO, GO, GO.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN PAIN.

-HELP ME!
-YOU GOTTA GET UP!

THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

AND THEY WERE.

HURRICANE
ALLEY IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC

IS FAMOUS FOR ITS STORMS.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE CREW OF
THE 790-FOOT CONTAINER SHIP,

EL FARO, HAS ALREADY
CHANGED COURSE

TO AVOID A BIG ONE,
TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN.

IN COMMAND OF THE SHIP AND
ALL 32 CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD

IS CAPTAIN MICHAEL DAVIDSON.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S
AN EASTERLY SWELL.

WE'RE JUST GONNA
HAVE TO WATCH IT.

THE WEATHER PATTERN
IS CRAZY ERRATIC.

THE CAPTAIN, HE HAD
OVER 24 YEARS AT SEA.

HE'D SAILED ON THE NORTH
ATLANTIC AND THE ALASKAN RUNS.

HE WAS EXPERIENCED
WITH HEAVY WEATHER.

AND HE KNEW THIS SHIP.

EL FARO
IS ABOUT HALFWAY

INTO A TWO AND A
HALF DAY, WEEKLY RUN

FROM JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
TO SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.

THE MASSIVE SHIP IS CARRYING

391 SHIPPING CONTAINERS ON DECK

AND 505 TRACTOR TRAILERS
AND CARS IN HER HOLDS.

JACK HEARN IS A FORMER
CAPTAIN OF THE EL FARO.

HE KNOWS THE SHIP AND WORKED
WITH MANY OF HER CREW.

AT THAT POINT, SHE WASROUGHLY 40 YEARS OLD,

AND STILL IN GOOD CONDITION.

THE STEEL WAS THICK,
THE FRAMING WAS CLOSE,

AND SHE WAS A
POWERFULLY BUILT SHIP,

AND POWERFULLY ENGINEERED SHIP.

EXCELLENT IN ROUGH WEATHER.

BUT THAT'S
ABOUT TO BE PUT TO THE TEST.

LESS THAN 12 HOURS
INTO EL FARO'S JOURNEY,

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER UPGRADES JOAQUIN

TO A FULL CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE.

BY TWO O'CLOCK,
SO ON YOUR WATCH,

YOU SHOULD BE SOUTH
OF THIS MONSTER.

YEAH.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER TO AVOID JOAQUIN,

SO THE CAPTAIN'S
CHARTED A COURSE

TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE
FROM THE EYE OF THE STORM.

THE CAPTAIN THOUGHT
THAT HIS SPEED AND THE COURSE

WOULD PLACE HIM FARTHER TO
THE SOUTH OF THE HURRICANE.

IT'D BE A ROUGH NIGHT
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE STORM

WOULD STILL BE FARTHER
TO THE NORTH OF THEM.

WELL, I'M GONNA WATCHA LITTLE TELEVISION, I THINK.

SECOND MATE
AND SHIP'S NAVIGATOR,

DANIELLE RANDOLPH, WILL
STAND WATCH OVERNIGHT.

THE 34-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE OFFICER

IS ONE OF ONLY TWO
WOMEN ON BOARD.

SHE'S JUST RETURNED FROM A
VACATION VISITING HER MOTHER.

RIGHT FROM
KINDERGARTEN ON,

SHE WANTED TO WORK ON
BOATS, AS SHE PUT IT.

SHE WANTED TO BE OUT TO SEA,

SHE WANTED TO BE A SAILOR,

SHE WANTED TO GO ON A BIG SHIP.

AND LOVED IT.

AND TO HER, THE OCEAN WAS HOME.

WHOA, IT'S GONNA
BE A BUMPY ONE.

YEAH.

THE PLAN TO
OUTRUN THE STORM MAKES SENSE.

EL FARO'S MAIN ENGINE CANDELIVER UP TO 30,000 HORSEPOWER.

THIS WAS A VESSEL THAT
WAS CAPABLE OF DOING

UP TO 20 KNOTS

AND THE CAPTAIN WAS COUNTING
ON HIS SPEED AS PART OF HIS,

YOU KNOW, OPTIONS FOR KEEPING
AWAY OR CLEAR OF THE STORM.

BUT BY
ONE IN THE MORNING,

THEY'RE HITTING THE
EDGES OF THE STORM,

AND IT'S TAKING A TOLL
ON THE CREW'S NERVES.

YOU'LL FEEL THE
BOW OF THE SHIP

IN A HEAVY WAVE AS A
STORM STARTS TO BUILD.

YOU'LL FEEL THE LURCH AND
THE SUDDENNESS OF SHOCK.

IT STOPS EVERYTHING,
AND IT'S STUNNING,

AND YOU WONDER IF IT'S
GONNA COME RIGHT THROUGH.

THEN,
IT GETS WORSE.

PLEASE BE
ADVISED HURRICANE JOAQUIN

HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO
A CATEGORY 3 STORM.

IN
LESS THAN 24 HOURS,

JOAQUIN HAS GROWN
FROM A CATEGORY 1

TO A POWERFUL
CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE.

NEAR ITS CENTER, IT'S
PRODUCING SUSTAINED WINDS

OF 115 MILES AN HOUR.

OH, MY GOD.

HURRICANE
EXPERT DAVID NOLAN

TRACKED THE STORM'S
UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.

JOAQUIN DID SOMETHING
THAT WE CALL

RAPID INTENSIFICATION,

WHICH IS A, YOU KNOW, A
LARGE INCREASE IN STRENGTH

OVER A RELATIVELY
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AS THE WIND
PICKS UP, SO DOES THE SEA.

WAVES BEGIN REACHING
HEIGHTS OF 26 FEET OR MORE,

WITH EXTREME WAVES
ALMOST TWICE THAT HIGH.

IT'S A SEA STATE THAT
MOST PEOPLE NEVER GET TO SEE

OR EXPERIENCE IN
ANY WAY, WHATSOEVER.

IT'S EVEN
WORSE AT NIGHT

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
SEE ANYTHING,

AND ALL YOU'RE DOING IS
FEELING THE MOTION OF THE SHIP

AND FEELING AND HEARING
THE WAVES HIT YOU.

WHOA!

WHOA!

IT ACTUALLY DOES
BECOME FRIGHTENING.

I'M GONNA GIVE
THE CAPTAIN A CALL

AND SEE IF HE WANTS TO COME UP.

IN THESE
WORSENING CONDITIONS,

THE SECOND MATE FEARS
THEIR PRESENT COURSE

IS NO LONGER SAFE.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN, IT ISN'T
LOOKING GOOD UP HERE.

SHE WANTS
TO CHANGE THEIR HEADING

TO STEER EVEN FARTHER
AWAY FROM THE HURRICANE.

FROM MY TRACK LINE,
I'VE GOT ZERO-TWO HUNDRED.

ALTER COURSE STRAIGHT
SOUTH AND TURN.

HER ALTERNATE
COURSE WOULD TAKE THEM

THROUGH A CHANNEL BETWEEN
CUBA AND THE BAHAMAS,

SHELTERING THEM FROM
THE WORST OF THE STORM.

NO, THIS
IS LOOKING GOOD.

STAY WITH THE COURSE
AS WE PLANNED IT.

OKAY.

AND THE
CAPTAIN SAYS "NO,

"I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

"FROM THE INFORMATION
I'M LOOKING AT,

"WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON."

HE SAID TO RUN IT.

ON
SHORE, METEOROLOGISTS

ARE TRACKING THE STORM CLOSELY.

IT'S BECOMING CLEAR JOAQUIN
IS NOT ONLY GETTING STRONGER,

IT'S NO LONGER FOLLOWING
THE PROJECTED COURSE.

MOST OF THE COMPUTER
MODEL FORECASTS

ORIGINALLY TOOK
JOAQUIN TO THE NORTH.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT
OF US EXPECTED IT TO DO.

THE FACT THAT IT CONTINUED
TO MOVE SOUTHWEST

WAS REALLY A SURPRISE.

ON BOARD,DANIELLE HAS FINISHED HER SHIFT

AND SENDS A WORRIED
EMAIL TO HER MOTHER.

SHE SAID,
"I'M NOT SURE

"IF YOU'VE BEEN
WATCHING THE WEATHER,

"BUT WE'RE IN A HURRICANE."

AND FOR HER TO SAY
THAT, IT WAS UNUSUAL

BECAUSE SHE NEVER
WANTED TO WORRY ME.

SHE WROTE, "LOVE TO EVERYONE."

SHE NEVER EVER SIGNED
HER EMAILS LIKE THAT.

AT 4:00 A.M.,
CHIEF MATE STEVE SCHULTZ

IS STANDING WATCH ON THE BRIDGE,

AND ABLE SEAMAN FRANK
HAMM IS AT THE HELM.

THE INTENSITY OF THE
STORM HAS HIM ON EDGE.

CAPTAIN, I KNEW BY 1:00
A.M. THE STORM WAS COMING IN.

WELL, THIS IS
EVERY DAY IN ALASKA.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE.

THE CAPTAIN
CALLS ON HIS LONG EXPERIENCE

IN ALASKA TO REASSURE HIM.

BUT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

THE SHIP HAS STARTED
HEELING OVER TO ONE SIDE.

THE CREW AND THE
CAPTAIN CAN FEEL IT.

WE'RE SETTING, SIR.

GOING LIKE THIS.

SHE'S BEING HEELED
OVER TO THAT STARBOARD SIDE

BECAUSE ALL THIS WIND
AND ALL THE WAVES

ARE NOW ACTING ON HER PORT SIDE.

AND ALL THESE CONTAINERS,
ALL THIS SURFACE

THAT THE WIND AND THE
WAVES CAN PUSH AGAINST,

ARE PUSHING US OVER
ONTO OUR STARBOARD SIDE.

SO, WE'VE GOT THIS WIND
HEEL THAT'S GOING ON.

IN THE
ENORMOUS 26-FOOT SEAS,

THE MAIN ENGINE IS HAVING
TROUBLE KEEPING UP.

THE SHIP IS SLOWING DOWN,

AND THE WIND IS BLOWING
THEM OFF COURSE.

WE'RE POUNDING A BIT

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING
MORE EASTERLY.

WE NEED TO LET HER
GET UP TO SPEED,

GET A LITTLE MORE ON OUR COURSE.

IT'S AN
ALARMING DEVELOPMENT.

THE CAPTAIN IS
DEPENDING ON THEIR SPEED

TO HELP KEEP THEM OUT OF
THE WORST OF THE STORM.

THE VESSEL DROPPED
SPEED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,

THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

AND THAT INDICATES THAT

THEY'RE REALLY NEAR THE
CENTER OF THE STORM,

WHICH IS NOT THE
PLACE YOU WANT TO BE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEELTHE PRESSURE CHANGING

AS YOU GET CLOSER TO
THE CENTER OF A STORM.

YOUR EARS WILL POP.

HARD RIGHT, RUDDER.

HARD RIGHT.

IT'S A STRUGGLE

JUST TO HOLD THE SHIP ON COURSE.

AND THINGS ARE ABOUT
TO GET MUCH WORSE.

BRIDGE, CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN, WE GOT
FLOODING IN NUMBER THREE.

GO DOWN TO THREE HOLD,START THE PUMPS RIGHT NOW.

YES, SIR.

THE CAPTAIN
IS CONCERNED.

HE HAS TO BE CONCERNED

BECAUSE, NOT ONLY
IS HE IN BAD WEATHER

AND WHAT LOOKS TO BE AN
INCREASINGLY WORSE SITUATION,

NOW HE'S GOT FLOODING IN
HIS NUMBER THREE HOLD.

AN
HOUR BEFORE DAWN,

IN THE JAWS OF A HURRICANE,

THE EL FARO IS IN TROUBLE.

DESPITE HAVING
ALTERED COURSE,

THE MASSIVE CONTAINER
SHIP EL FARO,

IS CLOSER THAN EXPECTED
TO HURRICANE JOAQUIN.

NOW, THEY'RE FACING A CRISIS.

THE SHIP IS TAKING ON WATER.

THE FIRST
THING IS THAT,

WHERE HAS THE WATER COME FROM?

AND HOW DO WE STOP
IT FROM COMING IN?

THAT'S THE FIRST PRIORITY.

CHIEF MATE, WHEN HE GOES
DOWN TO HAVE A LOOK,

THE WATER IS COMING IN
THROUGH AN OPEN SCUTTLE.

THE WATER IS RUNNING
DOWN THROUGH THIS

AND IT'S NOW DOWN IN THE HOLD.

THE SCUTTLE IS A
PASSAGEWAY LEADING FROM A DECK

OPEN TO THE WEATHER, DOWN
INTO THE SHIP'S HOLD.

ITS HATCH SHOULD BE CLOSED
TIGHT, BUT IT'S COME OPEN.

CAPTAIN,
IT'S THE CHIEF.

LOOKS LIKE AN OPEN SCUTTLE.

SOMEHOW THAT SCUTTLE
LEAKED, OPENED, VIBRATED OPEN,

OR WAS POUNDED OPEN
IN ROUGH WEATHER,

AND STARTED TAKING ON WATER.

WITH WIND
BLOWING THE SHIP TO STARBOARD,

WATER IS POOLING OVER
THE OPEN SCUTTLE,

AND BEING FUNNELED INTO A HOLD

PACKED WITH CARS AND
TRACTOR TRAILERS.

THE PUMPS CAN'T KEEP
UP WITH THE FLOODING.

AND IT'S TOO
DANGEROUS FOR THE CREW

TO TRY AND SHUT THE HATCH.

RIGHT NEXT TO
THAT LOCATION

IS A VERY LARGE HULL OPENING

THAT IS ACTUALLY BUILT
FOR CARGO TRANSFER

AND A TRUCK TO DRIVE
RIGHT THROUGH IT.

SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE A DOOR
AS LARGE AS A TRACTOR TRAILER

AND OPEN TO THE SEA WITH
WATER COMING IN CHEST-HIGH.

CARGO COULD MOVE ONTO
YOU AND CRUSH YOU.

IT'S A CRITICAL SITUATION
AND YOU'VE GOT TO FIX IT.

CAPTAIN DAVIDSON
COMES UP WITH A PLAN.

HE'LL USE THE HURRICANE ITSELF
TO HELP STOP THE FLOODING.

I'M GONNA
TURN THE SHIP.

GIVE US A PORT LIST SO WE
GET A BETTER LOOK AT IT.

THE CAPTAIN DECIDED
WE'RE GOING TO TURN THE SHIP

SO THAT THE WIND IS
NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE,

ON OUR STARBOARD SIDE, TO TRY
TO INDUCE MORE OF A PORT LIST,

DRY OUT THE WATER ON
THE STARBOARD SIDE

AND WE'RE GONNA FIX THIS.

OKAY, I'M GONNA
START THE TURN.

LEFT 20!

LEFT 20.

JUST BEFORE
SIX IN THE MORNING,

THE CAPTAIN TURNS THE EL FARO
INTO HEAVY, ONCOMING SEAS.

STEER:
THREE-FIVE-ZERO.

THREE-FIVE-ZERO.

IT TAKES A FEW MINUTESTO TURN A BIG, SLOW-MOVING SHIP

'CAUSE IN THOSE HEAVY
SEAS AND SWELLS,

THE SHIP ISN'T MOVING
LIKE A RACE CAR.

THE SHIP'S GOING TO
TAKE MUCH HARDER ROLLS

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TURN
AND HEAD INTO THESE HIGH SEAS.

SO, IT'S A VERY
DANGEROUS MANEUVER, BUT

IT'S ALL YOU CAN DO

THREE-FIVE-ZERO.

OKAY, WE'VE GOT
A NICE PORT LIST.

AS THE
WIND PUSHES THE SHIP

OVER ONTO HER PORT SIDE,

THE WATER DRAINS
OFF THE OPEN HATCH,

AND THE CREW CAN SEAL IT SHUT.

IT SHOULD STOP THE FLOODING
FROM GETTING ANY WORSE.

BUT NOW, THERE'S A NEW PROBLEM.

DOWN IN THE ENGINE ROOM,
ALARMS ARE GOING OFF.

DAMMIT!

I THINK WE
JUST LOST THE PLANT.

AT THE
WORST POSSIBLE TIME,

THE SHIP'S MAIN ENGINE
SPUTTERS AND SHUTS DOWN.

THE SOUND OF LOSING
YOUR MAIN ENGINES

IS NOT A SOUND THAT
YOU WANT TO HEAR.

MANUAL PUMP!

THE ENGINEERS NEED
TO RESTORE THE OIL PRESSURE,

IF THEY ARE TO HAVE ANY HOPE
OF RESTARTING THE ENGINE.

THE ENGINE ROOM
IS THE HEART,

LIVER AND LUNGS OF THE SHIP.

ONCE THE ENGINE ROOM IS QUIET,

EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE
SHIP CEASES TO OPERATE.

WITHOUT POWER,
EL FARO IS AT THE MERCY

OF THE HURRICANE'S
ENORMOUS WAVES.

THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL.

THE SHIP IS ROLLING
AND IT'S PITCHING,

AND THE ENGINEERS ARE DOWN
THERE SCRAMBLING AROUND,

"WE GOT TO DO THIS.

"WE GOT TO GET
THE ENGINE GOING."

I NEED THAT OIL
PRESSURE BACK UP NOW!

WITH A DEAD
SHIP IN A VIOLENT STORM,

STARTING THE ENGINE IS
THEIR ONLY HOPE TO SURVIVE.

YOU'RE IN A
FIGHT WITH A STORM,

AND YOU NEED THAT
PROPULSION SYSTEM

TO MOVE THAT SHIP
AWAY FROM THE DANGERS

AND DEAL WITH EACH
ONCOMING WAVE.

NO
MATTER WHAT THEY DO,

THE ENGINEERS CAN'T GET
THE ENGINE BACK ON-LINE.

THE EL FARO IS NOW
STARTING TO DRIFT.

SHE'S STARTING TO TURN,

BECAUSE THE WAVES
ARE HITTING HER NOW

AND SHE'S STARTING
TO DRIFT SIDE ON.

AND THIS IS THE ONE POSITION

BEAM-ON, EXPOSED ALONG
HER ENTIRE LENGTH.

IT IS A HUNDRED-KNOT WINDS
AND SEAS OF OVER 35 FEET.

EL FARO
COULD CAPSIZE ANY MOMENT.

THE CAPTAIN HAS NO
CHOICE BUT TO ACTIVATE

THE AUTOMATED MAYDAY SIGNAL.

ALRIGHT, LET'S
PUSH THE BUTTON.

DISTRESS BUTTON'S
BEEN ACTIVATED.

IT'S
THE LAST SIGNAL

EVER RECEIVED FROM EL FARO.

THE SHIP IS NOW
BEAM-ON TO THE SEAS.

WE'RE ROLLING, WE'RE
UNCONTROLLABLY ROLLING.

RING THE ABANDON SHIP.

THE GENERAL ALARM
HAS BEEN SOUNDED.

PREPARE EVERYTHING TO
GET READY TO GET OFF.

EVERYTHING IS BREAKING LOOSE.

-YOU OKAY?
-YEAH, YOU GOOD?

-YEAH, I THINK SO.
-THERE YOU GO, FOCUS.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE...

THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

AND THEY WERE.

GO, GO, GO.

HOURS LATER,
HURRICANE JOAQUIN SLAMS

INTO THE BAHAMAS, LEAVING
DEVASTATION IN ITS PATH.

SEARCH AND RESCUE RECEIVE
EL FARO'S DISTRESS SIGNAL,

BUT THE RAGING STORM
HINDERS THE SEARCH.

AS HOPE DWINDLES,
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES

OF THE MISSING CREW HOLD VIGIL.

WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT

HIM NEVER COMING HOME
FROM A SHIP.

IT'S JUST BEEN A
LOT OF AGONY,

BUT THEN WE ALSO POOL IN ALL
OUR HOPE AND OUR LOVE TOGETHER

AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE RUNNING
ON NOW, IT'S JUST HOPE.

WE WERE GLUED TO THETV LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, YOU KNOW,

HOPING FOR GOOD NEWS.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT
THERE COULD BE A SURVIVOR?

YOU HANG ON, HOPE
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

SEVEN DAYS
AFTER EL FARO'S LAST SIGNAL,

THE LAST SHREDS
OF HOPE ARE GONE.

SEARCH AND RESCUE
FIND FLOATING DEBRIS

CONTAINERS,

A LIFE RING,

A CRUSHED LIFE BOAT,

BUT NO SIGN OF ANY SURVIVORS.

ALL 33 CREW ON THE EL FARO
ARE PRESUMED LOST AT SEA.

IT'S THE DEADLIEST
U.S. MARITIME DISASTER

IN ALMOST 40 YEARS.

SHE ALWAYS SAID TO ME,

"IF ANYTHING HAPPENS
TO ME OUT AT SEA, MOM,

"IT'S OKAY, I DIED DOING
WHAT I WANT TO DO."

THE
U.S. COAST GUARD

AND THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION TO FINDOUT WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHY.

WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE REPORTS

THAT THIS VESSEL HAS
SUNK IN DEEP WATER.

IT WAS A U.S.
FLAG VESSEL

THAT THE COAST GUARD OVERSEES.

AND THEY'RE U.S.
LIVES, THE MARINERS

AND A LARGE NUMBER, 33, LOST.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A
DEFINITE SINCERE DESIRE

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED
AND TO NOT SPARE ANY EXPENSE.

FINDING
ANSWERS WON'T BE EASY.

THE WRECK IS LOST IN WATERS
MORE THAN 15,000 FEET DEEP.

FIVE DAYS AFTER THE
SINKING OF THE EL FARO,

INVESTIGATORS BEGIN
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.

BRIAN YOUNG IS LEAD INVESTIGATOR

FOR THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD.

EL FARO WAS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CASES, I THINK,

N.T.S.B. HAS EVER DEALT WITH,
ESPECIALLY IN THE MARINE MODE.

AND WE HADN'T LOST
AN AMERICAN SHIP

AND THE ENTIRE CREW IN DECADES.

CAPTAIN JASONNEUBAUER OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD

IS ALSO ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.

FROM A COAST
GUARD STANDPOINT,

WE LOOK AT ALL THE ASPECTS,
LIKE ALSO ACCOUNTABILITY,

BEYOND JUST WHAT
CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE
OF ALL THE PEOPLE,

INCLUDING THE MARINERS,
THE MARINE INSPECTORS

THAT LOOKED AT THE SHIP.

THAT'S OUR CHARGE.

SO, DEBRIS WAS
FOUND HERE AND HERE.

SO, THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE WORKING WITH.

30 DAYS
AFTER THE SINKING,

THE WRECK IS LOCATED
BY NAVY SONAR.

SOMEWHERE AMONG THE
SCATTERED DEBRIS

IS THE MOST VITAL
PIECE OF EVIDENCE,

THE VOYAGE DATA RECORDER.

ITS MICROPHONES
CAPTURE CONVERSATIONS

ON THE SHIP'S BRIDGE

AND ITS SENSORS RECORD
VALUABLE PERFORMANCE DATA.

THE INFORMATION'S THEN FED
TO A WATERTIGHT CAPSULE

MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE BRIDGE.

FINDING IT WON'T BE EASY.

THE VDR IS EQUIPPED
WITH A LOCATOR BEACON,

BUT IT'S NOT WORKING.

AND EL FARO'S TWISTED
WRECKAGE IS SCATTERED

ACROSS NEARLY A SQUARE MILE.

INVESTIGATORS SCAN THE WRECKAGE

BY USING CAMERAS
MOUNTED ON AN ROV.

BUT AFTER WEEKS OF SEARCHING,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF THE VDR.

WE TRIED TO PUT
TOGETHER THE PIECES

OF WHAT MAY HAVE
POSSIBLY HAPPENED,

AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT,
ESPECIALLY WITHOUT THE VDR,

TO HAVE ANY IDEA AS TO
WHAT THE CREW EXPERIENCED

IN THE LAST FEW HOURS.

WHY DID A SHIP

RECEIVING UP-TO-THE-MINUTE
WEATHER DATA

END UP IN SUCH A
DEADLY POSITION?

SO, EL FARO IS THERE,

AND THIS IS THE
EYE OF THE STORM.

HOW DID THEY END
UP 20 MILES

FROM THE EYE OF A HURRICANE?

THAT'S THE
MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

WE KNEW THE CAPTAIN HADMADE A PHONE CALL TO THE COMPANY

SAYING THAT HE WAS
IN THE HURRICANE,

THE SHIP WAS IN TROUBLE.

SO, WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS

SPEAK WITH THE
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE

WHO HAD RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL,

TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ANY MORE
DETAILS ON THAT PHONE CALL.

SO, THE CAPTAIN SAID
THE SHIP WAS FLOODING

AND THAT IT WAS IN TROUBLE?

THEY HAD SOME WATER
COMING INTO THE SHIP,

AND THAT THEY HAD
LOST PROPULSION.

THANKS FOR COMING BY.

BUT THE
CAPTAIN DIDN'T KNOW

WHAT SET OFF THEIR
ENGINE PROBLEMS,

OR WHY THEY COULDN'T RESTART IT.

LOOKING FOR INSIGHTS,
INVESTIGATORS INSPECT

EL FARO'S SISTER
SHIP, THE EL YUNQUE.

INVESTIGATING
A SHIP UNDERWATER

THAT IS VIRTUALLY UNREACHABLE

IS A CHALLENGE IN ITSELF.

AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE A
VERY SIMILAR DESIGNED VESSEL,

EL YUNQUE, TO SEE IF THERE
WAS ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES.

IT'S ABOUT THE SAME
AGE AND WE WANTED TO SEE

WHAT THE LAYOUT
OF THE VESSEL WAS,

AND ALSO, WERE THERE
ANY PROBLEM AREAS

FROM A WATERTIGHT
INTEGRITY STANDPOINT?

IT
DOESN'T TAKE THEM LONG

TO FIND A TROUBLING CLUE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

EACH VEHICLE
IS SUPPOSED TO BE SECURED

DIRECTLY TO FASTENERS
WELDED TO THE DECK.

BUT ABOARD EL YUNQUE, CARS
ARE ATTACHED TO LONG CHAINS

THAT RUN ACROSS THE
WIDTH OF THE CARGO HOLD.

IT'S MUCH LESS SECURE.

ON EL FARO, WITH THEINCREASED WEATHER AND A WET DECK

AND THE CARS ONLY
SECURED TO A LONG CHAIN,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER
FOR THE CARS TO BREAK FREE

IN THEIR LASHINGS AND
MOVE ABOUT THE CARGO HOLD,

WHICH WAS SUBJECT
TO IMMENSE FORCES.

LOOSE CARGO
CAN MAKE A SHIP UNSTABLE,

ESPECIALLY IN A VIOLENT STORM.

THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF THIS
IS WHAT HAPPENED ON EL FARO

IS TO GO BACK TO THE WRECKAGE

AND FIND THE VOYAGE
DATA RECORDER.

THE QUESTION WAS, WHERE
WAS THE VOYAGE DATA RECORDER?

ANDY BOWEN
IS A PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

AT THE WOODS HOLE
OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION.

LEADERS IN DEEP SEA
EXPLORATION, THEIR SHIP,

THE ATLANTIS, IS EQUIPPED
WITH HIGH DEFINITION SONAR,

AND AN ROV THAT CAN HUNT FOR
SMALL OBJECTS AT GREAT DEPTH.

IT WAS A PARTICULARLY
CHALLENGING OBJECTIVE.

ANY LUCK YET?

EL FARO LIES VERY
DEEP IN THE OCEAN,

OVER 4,000 METERS DOWN,

BECAUSE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING

THE SIZE OF A LARGE
CAN OF COFFEE,

WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT THE VDR IS,

AMONGST THOUSANDS
OF TONS OF SHIP,

IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A
NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

TO
MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

THE WRECK HAS BEEN TORN APART.

THE MAST, AND WITH IT THE
VDR, IS STILL MISSING.

THE BRIDGE WAS NOT
ON THE TOP OF THE SHIP

WHERE YOU EXPECTED IT TO BE.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WHAT'S THAT?

THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THE BRIDGE

SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS
FROM THE WRECKAGE,

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE
MAST, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY

HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO
THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE,

HAD BEEN SEPARATED, AND
THAT'S WHERE THE VDR WAS.

IS THERE ANYTHING?

NO.

SO, IF WE COULD FIND THEMAST, WHICH WAS A LARGE OBJECT,

IT WAS QUITE LIKELY
THAT WE MIGHT FIND

THE VOYAGE DATA RECORDER
CONNECTED TO IT.

THAT WAS SORT OF THE
IDEAL SCENARIO FOR US.

SO, DOES THAT BRING US TO
THE END OF THIS SECTION?

NOT QUITE.

INVESTIGATORS
CHART THE LOCATION

OF EVERY PIECE OF DEBRIS,

AND USE THE PATTERN TO
TARGET THEIR SEARCH.

HOW'S IT GOING?

IF
THEY'D GUESSED WRONG,

THE ENTIRE EXPEDITION
COULD END IN FAILURE.

NTSB INVESTIGATOR SEAN PAYNE
WAS PART OF THE SEARCH TEAM.

AT THAT POINT,
WE WERE BASICALLY

WORKING OFF OF ADRENALINE.

OKAY, I'M GONNA
GET SOME SLEEP.

I HAD THIS FEELING
THAT IF WE DIDN'T FIND IT

IN EITHER MY WATCH,
OR THE NEXT WATCH,

IF IT WASN'T IN THAT AREA,

THAT OUR HUNCH THAT
THIS THING WAS LAID OUT

IN A WRECKAGE DEBRIS
FIELD THAT MADE SENSE,

LIKE ANY OTHER
ACCIDENT, WAS INCORRECT.

SO, THERE WAS A LOT OFPRESSURE GOING INTO THAT NIGHT.

A FEW
HOURS INTO HIS SHIFT,

SOMETHING CATCHES HIS EYE.

OH, MY GOD, GO BACK,
GO BACK, GO BACK.

I HONESTLY CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT WE WERE SEEING,

WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE
DARKNESS OF THE SEA,

WAS FINALLY THE
SHAPE OF THE MAST.

AND EVEN
BETTER, A FEW CABLES

WERE STILL HOLDING
THE VDR TO THE BASE.

THAT'S IT.

THE NAVYSALVAGE TEAM IS BROUGHT BACK

TO RECOVER THE CAPSULE.

ITS WIRES ARE ENTANGLED,

AND NEED SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
TO CUT THEM FREE.

INVESTIGATORS MAY FINALLY
HAVE THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED

TO EXPLAIN WHY THE EL FARO SANK,

KILLING ALL 33 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

AT NTSB HEADQUARTERS
IN WASHINGTON,

INVESTIGATORS BEGIN
THE MAMMOTH TASK

OF ANALYZING THE CONVERSATIONS
CAPTURED ON THE BRIDGE

WHILE THE DISASTER WAS
ACTUALLY UNFOLDING.

THE VDR ACTUALLY
RECORDED 26 HOURS

OF THE EL FARO'S FINAL VOYAGE.

IT STARTED SOMEWHERE OFF
THE COAST OF FLORIDA,

CONTINUED ON UNTIL
ABOUT 7:40 A.M.

WHEN THE SHIP SANK OFF
THE COAST OF THE BAHAMAS.

IT'S THE
LONGEST RECORDING THE NTSB

HAS EVER HAD TO ANALYZE.

HOW'S IT COMING?

SLOW PROGRESS, BUT
WE'RE GETTING THERE.

HAVE A SEAT.

THE
INVESTIGATORS LISTEN FOR CLUES

HOPING TO PIECE TOGETHER
WHAT LED TO THE DISASTER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT THE LAST WORDS,

BUT REALLY, IT'S THE WORDS THATARE SPOKEN WELL BEFORE THAT

THAT OFTEN REVEAL WHAT
HAPPENED IN AN ACCIDENT.

VERY DIFFICULT TO LISTENTO THE ENTIRE 26 HOURS OF AUDIO.

AND THE HARDEST PART IS WE KNEW

HOW THAT ENDING
WAS GONNA HAPPEN,

WHEREAS WE KNEW THEY
DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

AS THE
RECORDING BEGINS,

THE CREW IS ALREADY TRACKING
THE DEVELOPING STORM.

RIGHT
NOW, IT'S AN EASTERLY SWELL.

WE'RE JUST GONNA
HAVE TO WATCH IT.

THE WEATHER PATTERN
IS CRAZY ERRATIC.

YEAH.

WE WANTED TO KNOW IF
THE SHIP WAS SEAWORTHY.

WAS THERE A PROBLEM WITH
THE WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY

OF THE VESSEL?

AND ALSO, WAS THE CREW,

DID THEY COMPETENTLY
HANDLE THE SITUATION?

BRIDGE, CAPTAIN.

THEY ZERO IN
ON THE CAPTAIN'S ATTEMPTS

TO DEAL WITH FLOODING IN
CARGO HOLD NUMBER THREE.

GO DOWN TO THREE HOLD.

START THE PUMPS RIGHT NOW.

YES, SIR.

THE CAPTAIN WAS
FOCUSING ON TRYING TO CLOSE

THE STARBOARD SCUTTLE
THAT HAD BEEN VERIFIED

TO BE A SOURCE OF
FLOODING BY THE CREW.

CAPTAIN,
IT'S THE CHIEF.

LOOKS LIKE AN OPEN SCUTTLE.

OKAY, I'M GONNA
TURN THE SHIP AROUND.

GIVE US A PORT LIST.

SEE IF WE CAN GET A
BETTER LOOK AT IT.

SO, IN THE BRIDGE, YOUCAN HEAR THAT THEY MADE

A DECISION TO TURN
THE VESSEL TO PORT.

WE
GOT A NICE PORT LIST.

SO, THE CREW
GAINED ACCESS

TO THE SCUTTLE ON
THE STARBOARD SIDE,

IS ABLE TO CLOSE IT.

THEREFORE, NO MORE
WATER IS ENTERING

THE CARGO HOLD VIA THE SCUTTLE.

THE CAPTAIN'S
MANEUVER SOLVED ONE PROBLEM,

BUT AS INVESTIGATORS LISTEN,
THEY DISCOVER THE SCUTTLE

WASN'T THE ONLY SOURCE
OF THE FLOODING.

WE KNOW FROM
THE VDR THAT THEY

EXPERIENCED SEVERE FLOODING

EVEN AFTER CLOSING
THE STARBOARD SCUTTLE.

CAPTAIN.

I THINK THE WATER
LEVEL'S RISING.

SOMETHING HIT THE FIRE
MAIN, GOT IT RUPTURED.

I SAW CARS BOBBING AROUND.

PLAY THAT AGAIN.

SOMETHING
HIT THE FIRE MAIN,

GOT IT RUPTURED.

INVESTIGATORS
ALREADY KNOW CARS

WEREN'T SECURED PROPERLY
ON EL FARO'S SISTER SHIP.

NOW, THEY HEAR HOW
DANGEROUS THAT CAN BE.

THERE'S A
GOOD POSSIBILITY

THAT THE EMERGENCY FIRE MAIN,

WHICH WAS IN HOLD THREE, WAS
DAMAGED BY FLOATING VEHICLES

AND SOME OTHER
DEBRIS IN THAT AREA.

THE FIRESUPPRESSION SYSTEM USES SEAWATER

THAT IS DRAWN INTO THE
SHIP THROUGH PIPES.

IF A CAR HAD STRUCK
THE INCOMING PIPE

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIP

THAT ALLOWS SEA WATER TO
ENTER INTO THE PIPING SYSTEM,

THERE'S NO WAY TO STOP IT.

THE
UNCONTROLLED FLOODING

IN CARGO HOLD NUMBER
THREE WAS DEADLY SERIOUS.

BUT IT DOESN'T EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

DAMMIT!

I THINK WE JUST
LOST THE PLANT.

THE MAIN
ENGINE SHUT DOWN.

I NEED
THAT BACK UP NOW.

AND DESPITE
THE CREW'S FRANTIC EFFORTS,

THEY COULDN'T RESTART IT.

WITHOUT ENGINES,
IT'S DEAD IN THE WATER.

BUT WHY DID
THEY LOSE POWER?

AND WHY COULDN'T
THEY GET IT BACK?

INVESTIGATORS
SUSPECT SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC

HAPPENED WHEN THE
CAPTAIN TURNED THE SHIP.

DAMMIT!

THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT WAS IT?

STEER:
THREE-FIVE-ZERO.

INVESTIGATORS
WANT TO KNOW WHY EL FARO

LOST HER MAIN ENGINE AT
THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME,

IN THE MIDDLE OF A HURRICANE.

I THINK WE JUST
LOST THE PLANT.

IF THE MAIN ENGINE
CONTINUED TO OPERATE,

THE SHIP WOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER

AND PUT THE HEAD OF
THE SHIP INTO THE WIND

AND POSSIBLY BEEN ABLE TO
MANEUVER OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

IT'S GOTTA BE
SOMETHING ABOUT THE TURN.

THEY LOSE POWER
RIGHT AFTER THE TURN.

BRIDGE, CAPTAIN.

ON THE
VDR, THEY HEAR THE CREW

DISCUSSING A PROBLEM
WITH LOW PRESSURE

IN THE ENGINE'S LUBE OIL SYSTEM.

WE'RE GONNA GET THAT
BOILER BACK UP IN A SECOND.

THEY'RE JUST GETTING THE
LUBE OIL PRESSURE UP.

I NEED THAT OIL
PRESSURE BACK UP NOW!

LUBE
OIL IS ESSENTIAL.

WITHOUT IT, THE SHIP'SENORMOUS MAIN ENGINE WON'T RUN.

AND AS INVESTIGATORS
STUDY THE SYSTEM,

THEY NOTICE A
QUIRK IN THE DESIGN

THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE FAILURE.

WE HAD THE PLANS
OF THE INTERNAL PARTS

OF THE LUBE OIL SUMP,

WHICH IS THE TANK
THAT PROVIDES THE OIL

TO LUBRICATE THE MAIN TURBINE.

INVESTIGATORS
NOTICE THE VALVE

THAT FEEDS LUBE
OIL TO THE ENGINE

IS OFFSET TO ONE SIDE.

THE LOPSIDED DESIGN
MEANS IF THE SHIP LISTS

TO PORT BY MORE THAN 15 DEGREES,

THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE
MAIN ENGINE IS CUT OFF.

THE TIMING OF THE DISASTER
SUPPORTS THE THEORY.

16 MINUTES AFTER THE
CAPTAIN TURNED THE SHIP,

EL FARO BEGAN LISTING
BY AS MUCH AS 18 DEGREES

ONTO HER PORT SIDE.

I'M NOT
LIKING THAT LIST.

WITH
DEADLY RESULTS.

AT THAT POINT,

THE TURBINE WOULD SHUT
DOWN AUTOMATICALLY.

THE PORT LIST
WAS LIKELY MORE EXTREME

THAN THE CAPTAIN WAS EXPECTING.

THE REASON WHY TAKES
INVESTIGATORS BACK

TO THE PROBLEM THAT MADE
THE CAPTAIN TURN THE SHIP

IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE
FLOODING IN THE HOLD.

NOW THAT THERE'S
WATER IN THE HOLD,

YOU HAVE AN EFFECT CALLED
FREE SURFACE EFFECT.

AND THIS HAPPENS
WHEN VOLUMES OF WATER

ARE ABLE TO SHIFT FROM
SIDE-TO-SIDE IN AN OPEN SPACE.

IT ADDS MORE ROLL, IT
ADDS INCREASING POWER,

THE SHIP'S ROLLING.

CARS HAVE COME LOOSE.

THAT'S ADDING TO THE WEIGHT
THAT'S MOVING AROUND.

THE SHIFTINGWEIGHT HAS TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.

IT HELPS PUSH THE
SHIP FARTHER TO PORT,

WHICH NOT ONLY TRIGGERS
THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN,

IT ALSO MAKES IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE
CREW WAS NOT AWARE

OF THE LIMITATIONS OF
THE ENGINE BEING EXPOSED

TO SUCH A HEAVY PORT LIST.

AND IN TERMS OF THE ENGINE ROOM,

IT WAS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

THE ENGINEERS NEEDED THE
SHIP TO BE ON AN EVEN KEEL,

TO GET THE OIL PRESSURE BACK,

BUT THE CAPTAIN
NEEDED THE ENGINE,

IN ORDER TO GET THE
SHIP TO AN EVEN KEEL.

WITHOUT ENGINES,
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE THE WIND AND WAVES
OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN

CAPSIZE THE SHIP,
TAKING WITH HER

THE LIVES OF ALL
33 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

BUT THERE'S ONE FINAL MYSTERY.

EL FARO SOMEHOW ENDED
UP JUST 22 MILES

FROM THE EYE OF THE STORM.

INVESTIGATORS NEED TO KNOW WHY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST
QUESTIONS WE HAD WAS

WHY WAS THIS SHIP SO CLOSE
TO THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE?

WHY HE DECIDED TO
CONTINUE ON HIS COURSE?

PART OF
THE EXPLANATION COULD BE

THE UNUSUAL NATURE
OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN.

NOT ONLY DID IT STRENGTHEN
MORE QUICKLY THAN PREDICTED,

IT ALSO CHANGED DIRECTION.

AFTER FIRST HEADING NORTH,
IT TURNED TO THE SOUTHWEST,

STRAIGHT INTO EL FARO'S PATH.

INVESTIGATORS NEED TO KNOW

IF THAT INFORMATION
EVER REACHED THE CREW.

BIT BY BIT, THE
CONVERSATIONS ON THE BRIDGE

SUGGEST A TRAGIC ANSWER.

THAT IS ODD.

HEY, BRIAN?

THE TRANSCRIPTS
SHOW THE CREW KNEW THE STORM

HAD CHANGED DIRECTION,
BUT THE CAPTAIN DIDN'T.

-LOOK AT THIS.
-WHAT'VE YOU GOT?

SO RIGHT THERE,

I CAN TELL THEY HAVE THE
LATEST WEATHER.

THE CAPTAIN IS
NOT LOOKING AT IT.

OH.

PLEASE BE
ADVISED HURRICANE JOAQUIN

HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO
A CATEGORY 3 STORM.

DURING THE SECOND
MATE'S WATCH,

SHE HAD A SATELLITE RADIO ON

AND SHE HAD UPDATES FROM SAT-C,

WHICH IS A SATELLITE
SIGNAL THAT'S SENT

FROM THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE.

SO, THE CREW WAS
RECEIVING MULTIPLE,

UPDATED WEATHER REPORTS.

THAT
BRINGS US RIGHT

INTO THE STORM AT 4:00 A.M.

THEY'RE AWARE THAT
THEY ARE GONNA BE SAILING

VERY CLOSE TO THE HURRICANE.

CAPTAIN, IT ISN'T
LOOKING GOOD UP HERE.

THEY HEAR THESECOND MATE CALLING THE CAPTAIN

WITH AN URGENT REQUEST TO STEER
FARTHER AWAY FROM THE STORM.

FROM MY TRACK LINE,
I'VE GOT ZERO-TWO HUNDRED.

ALTER COURSE STRAIGHT
SOUTH AND TURN.

WHEN THE SECOND MATE
CALLED THE CAPTAIN,

SHE HAD SUGGESTED A COURSE
CHANGE TO GO DIRECTLY SOUTH

TO ESCAPE THE WORST
PART OF THE WEATHER.

BUT THE
CAPTAIN WAS CONFIDENT

HIS COURSE WAS THE RIGHT ONE.

NO, THIS IS
LOOKING GOOD.

STAY WITH THE COURSE
AS WE PLANNED IT.

OKAY.

HE SAID TO RUN IT.

WE DO KNOW THAT SHE
WAS GIVEN AN ORDER

TO RUN THE ORIGINAL COURSE,

WHICH PUT THEM CLOSE TO
THE EYE OF THE STORM.

THE SECOND
MATE TRIED TO WARN

THE CAPTAIN OF THE DANGER.

WHY DIDN'T HE
LISTEN TO HIS CREW?

INVESTIGATORS
EXAMINING THE LOSS

OF THE EL FARO

NEED TO KNOW WHY THE
CAPTAIN DIDN'T REALIZE

HIS SHIP WAS HEADING FOR
THE EYE OF A HURRICANE.

INFORMATION IS VITAL.

IT'S VITAL TO ANY
DECISION-MAKING.

YOU CAN ONLY MAKE
A DECISION BASED ON

AS ACCURATE INFORMATION
AS YOU CAN GET.

THE EL FARO
HAD RECEIVED WEATHER UPDATES

FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES.

BUT INVESTIGATORS NOW
SUSPECT THE CAPTAIN

WAS ONLY LOOKING AT ONE,

A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE THAT
USES EASY-TO-READ GRAPHICS.

IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

IT'S A VERY GRAPHIC DEPICTION
OF THE WEATHER SYSTEM

RELATIVE TO THE SHIP'S POSITION,

AND THAT WAS ONLY EMAILED TO
THE CAPTAIN'S EMAIL ADDRESS.

ALTHOUGH EASIERTO READ THAN SATELLITE REPORTS,

IT'S UPDATED LESS FREQUENTLY.

BY THE TIME IT'S
EMAILED TO THE CAPTAIN,

THE FORECAST IS
ALREADY SIX HOURS OLD.

IT STILL SHOWS JOAQUIN NORTH
OF THEIR PLANNED ROUTE.

HE THINKS THE
STORM IS HERE,

BUT IT'S REALLY HERE.

THE WEATHER REPORTS
THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT

THAT INDICATED HIS POSITION

WAS TO THE BETTER
SIDE OF THE STORM,

WHEREAS IN REALITY, THE SHIP

WAS IN THE WORST QUADRANT
OF THE HURRICANE.

BRIAN, THE CREW KNEW
THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

BUT THE CAPTAIN
DIDN'T LISTEN.

IT'S LIKELY
NEITHER CAPTAIN NOR CREW

REALIZED HE WAS
RELYING ON A FORECAST

THAT WAS DANGEROUSLY
OUT OF DATE.

IN THE END, IT IS
THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION.

WHEN THEY WERE FACED WITH
THE CAPTAIN'S ANSWER,

THEY FOLLOWED ORDERS.

HE SAID TO RUN IT.

I'M SURE, KNOWING
DANIELLE, SHE WAS INFURIATED

BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT THAT
WAS NOT A GOOD OPTION.

YOU'RE A CAPTAIN,
YOU'RE NOT GOD,

LISTEN TO YOUR CREW MEMBERS.

FOR THE CAPTAIN,
IT'S IMPORTANT

TO COUNT ON SUGGESTIONS
AND CONCERNS

THAT WERE COMING FROM
MEMBERS OF HIS OFFICERS.

TWO YEARS
AFTER THE SINKING,

INVESTIGATORS ISSUE THEIR
FINAL REPORT INTO THE TRAGEDY.

THERE WAS
A RIPPLE EFFECT

FLOODING, PROPULSION AND STORM.

THEY CALL THIS SOMETIMES
AN ERROR CHAIN,

WHERE THERE'S A CHAIN OF
EVENTS THAT ARE LINKED,

AND IF ANY ONE OF THOSE
THINGS HAD NOT HAPPENED,

POSSIBLY THEY WOULD
HAVE SURVIVED THE STORM.

THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN, IT ISN'T
LOOKING GOOD UP HERE.

IT BEGINS WITHTHE CAPTAIN'S MISTAKEN DECISION

TO IGNORE HIS CREW AND
STAY ON HIS COURSE.

NO, THIS IS
LOOKING GOOD.

STAY WITH THE COURSE
AS WE PLANNED IT.

OKAY.

HE SAID TO RUN IT.

ONCE EL FARO
WAS CAUGHT IN THE STORM,

SHE BEGAN TO FLOOD.

THE ATTEMPT TO FIX IT...

I'M GONNA
TURN THE SHIP.

GIVE US A PORT LIST SO WE
GET A BETTER LOOK AT IT.

CAUSED A PORT
LIST THAT WAS SO EXTREME,

IT CUT OFF THE OIL SUPPLY,

AND SHUT DOWN THE MAIN ENGINE.

I THINK WE JUST
LOST THE PLANT.

IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTART.

DAMMIT!

BY THE TIME THEY
REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED,

IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE.

RING THE ABANDON SHIP.

IN THOSE CONDITIONS,
THERE'S NO WAY

TO LAUNCH ONE OF THE
LIFEBOATS THAT THEY HAVE.

THE CREW KNEW AT THAT POINT,

THEIR ODDS OF SURVIVABILITY
WERE ALMOST ZERO.

THE FINAL
MOMENTS OF THE RECORDING

ARE HEART-WRENCHING.

IT WAS EXTREMELYEMOTIONAL TO LISTEN TO THE VDR.

WE'RE WATCHIN' THE CLOCK
TICKIN' DOWN TO THE END.

ARGH.

HELP ME!

YOU'RE
OKAY, COME ON.

DON'T FREEZE UP.

CAP!

CAP!

YOU GOOD?

YEAH.

THERE YOU GO, FOCUS.

YOU GOTTA GET UP!

HELP ME!

YOU GOTTA
SNAP OUT OF IT.

-I GOT IT.
-YOU CAN DO THIS.

-YEAH.
-GO, GO, GO.

YOU NEED TO MAKE
YOUR WAY UP HERE.

I CAN'T!

THE VESSEL'S
LEANING OVER SO MUCH.

I DON'T THINK THAT
HE CAN EVEN CLIMB UP

TO GET OUT OF THE BRIDGE.

THEY'RE LOSING HER NOW.

MY FEET ARE SLIPPING!

I'M GOING DOWN!

NO, YOU'RE
NOT, COME ON!

YOU GONNA
LEAVE ME?

I'M NOT
GONNA LEAVE YOU, LET'S GO!

WATER IS NOW PASSINGFREELY DOWN INTO THE LOWER HOLD.

THE VESSEL IS ON HER PORT SIDE.

THE VOICES OF
THE CAPTAIN AND THE HELMSMAN

ARE THE LAST ONES RECORDED.

-I'M A GONER!
-NO, YOU'RE NOT!

THE SHIP JUST
CONTINUED TO GO.

AND THERE'S NO STOPPING
IT AT THAT POINT.

IN THEIR FINAL
REPORTS, THE COAST GUARD

AND THE NTSB MAKE MORE
THAN 63 RECOMMENDATIONS,

INCLUDING BETTER TRAINING
ABOUT THE WORKING

OF THE SHIP'S ENGINES, AND
BETTER CREW COMMUNICATION.

I KNOW THAT
CHANGES WILL BE MADE

AS A RESULT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS,

AND WE ARE SEEING SOME ALREADY.

IT'S COMING FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION OF MARINERS,

THE SONS, THE DAUGHTERS,

PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL
GOING OUT THERE,

TO LEARN HOW WE CAN
PREVENT THESE ACCIDENTS

FROM HAPPENING TO US
THAT WORK OUT THERE,

AND TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT RELY
ON US TO DO THIS JOB RIGHT.

AS A CAPTAIN,

IT'S ONE THING TO BE IN
CHARGE OF EVERYONE,

AND BE SURE OF YOURSELF,

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO
ALSO BE SURE OF YOURSELF

TO BE ABLE TO BE
OPEN TO SUGGESTION.

WE ARE AT DAMES POINTAT THE EL FARO MEMORIAL.

THIS LIGHTHOUSE, THEY HAD BUILT

ESPECIALLY FOR THIS MEMORIAL.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.

AND THIS IS DANIELLE.

SO, ALL THESE ROCKS WERE DONE
BY FAMILY FRIENDS IN MAINE.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PICTURES OF DANIELLE.

AND I HAD HER SAYING
WHAT SHE TOLD ME

JUST BEFORE SHE LEFT,

"AT SEA IS WHERE I
ALWAYS WANT TO BE."