Phoenix & U.S. Navy Recovered Sunken Ship El Faro’s VDR
News

Phoenix & U.S. Navy Recovered Sunken Ship El Faro’s VDR

Phoenix International Holdings, USA, under the operational direction of the U.S. Navy’s Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), successfully recovered the voyage data recorder (VDR) from the sunken cargo vessel 'El Faro'. Working aboard USNS Apache (T-ATF 172), Phoenix operated the U.S. Navy’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) CURV-21 during a single 13-hour dive to identify and recover the VDR from a water depth of 15,000 feet. Following the recovery, the VDR was transferred to National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) investigators onboard 'USNS Apache'.

El Faro went missing on 1 October 2015 while operating in the midst of Hurricane Joaquin near Crooked Island in the Bahamas. In late October 2015, Phoenix, under the direction of SUPSALV, successfully located the sunken ship using the U.S. Navy’s deepwater side scan sonar search system Orion. The Phoenix team then launched CURV-21 to verify and visually inspect the wreckage.

Phoenix specialises in providing underwater operations and engineering services in response to subsea challenges. Phoenix provides quick response and turn-key services for the location and recovery of objects from any water depth down to 6,000 msw (20,000 feet of seawater).

 

Hydrography Newsletter

Value staying current with hydrography?

Stay on the map with our expertly curated newsletters.

We provide educational insights, industry updates, and inspiring stories from the world of hydrography to help you learn, grow, and navigate your field with confidence. Don't miss out - subscribe today and ensure you're always informed, educated, and inspired by the latest in hydrographic technology and research.

Choose your newsletter(s)