MIAMI – Coast Guard search and rescue crews continue searching in the Caribbean Sea for the El Faro cargo ship Sunday, covering a total search area of more than 70,000 square nautical miles.
Various objects have been located in the vicinity of the ship’s last known position 35 nautical miles northeast of Crooked Islands, Bahamas.
Life jackets, life rings, containers and an oil sheen were located by Coast Guard aircrews within a 225 square nautical mile search area.
That debris has not been confirmed to be from the El Faro at this time.
BREAKING: ‘Debris Field’ Located In Search of Cargo Ship Missing In Hurricane Joaquin – http://t.co/KfDeIdo8qL pic.twitter.com/47AswYCMrV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 4, 2015
Coast Guard assets involved in Sunday’s search include:
-Two HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
-Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia
-An MH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
-Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida
Other agencies involved in the search include the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.
Sea and weather conditions during today’s search include one-foot seas and 15 knots winds with unrestricted visibility.
Two Coast Guard cutters will stay on scene and search through the night.
28 Americans and five Polish nationals were aboard the ship when it went missing.