NTSB: The sinking of the El Faro – an illustrated digest
- Safety Flash
- Published on 28 October 2021
- Generated on 21 May 2026
- IMCA SF 29/21
- 3 minute read
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has published an illustrated digest of its own Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-17/01 into the loss of the cargo vessel El Faro
What happened?
The El Faro sank with the loss with all hands in a hurricane in 2015.
The digest contains a description of the accident and safety issues, and summarises some of the safety recommendations intended to prevent such an accident from happening again.
It is an informative and worthwhile short read for all persons involved in ships and in the maritime and offshore world.
One of the causal factors in the loss of the vessel (loss of lubrication oil to the main engine) is dealt with in IMCA Safety Flash 12-18 (see Related Safety Flashes below).
What went wrong?
The NTSB outlined the following safety issues:
- The Master’s actions – from early in the voyage, the Captain made decisions that put his vessel and crew at risk.
- The use of old or not up-to-date weather information.
- A late decision to muster the crew; this was left late – too late.
- Ineffective bridge resource management – the bridge crew deferred to the Captain’s authority and experience, rather than acting more assertively. When the crew did voice concerns, the Captain chose not to listen.
- Inadequate company oversight.
- Failures in the company’s safety management system.
- Flooding in cargo holds.
- Loss of propulsion.
- Downflooding through ventilation closures.
Lessons learned
The NTSB’s general recommendations included:
- Better and wider dissemination of information relating to weather at sea.
- Engines and other critical machinery that work at greater angles of inclination (i.e. despite more listing).
- Enclosed, not open, lifeboats, that can be launched at still greater angles of inclination.
- Protected seawater supply piping in cargo holds.
- Remote open/close indicators for watertight doors and hatches.
- Guidance that actions intended to correct a list can be dangerous if cargo is adrift.
- Class-approved damage control plans/booklets onboard all vessels, regardless of build date.
- Review of the inspection program and improved oversight for vessel inspections.
- Lifesaving appliances updated at least every 20 years.
- Personal locator beacons for crew members.
- Improvements to Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs).
- Improved Bridge Resource Management (non-technical skills) training – and improved meteorology training – for deck officers.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 12/18
14 June 2018
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
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