El Faro’s Crew Faced Dire Situation, Merchant Mariners Say

When the El Faro’s emergency radio beacon sent out a single ping at 7:20 a.m. Thursday, it was already in a precarious position. The ship was adrift after losing all engine power. It was taking on water and listing at 15 degrees while a Category 4 storm raged around it, blowing 100 mph winds and whipping up 40-foot waves. “It would be as if you were on the road at 60 miles an hour and you lost your steering,” said Kelly Sweeney, a master mariner with 35 years’ experience. But Sweeney said the captain and crew of the El Faro – which included the captain, Michael Davidson of Windham, and crew members Danielle Randolph of Rockport, Dylan Meklin of Rockland and Michael Holland of Wilton – were highly qualified, and highly trained, to deal with such dire circumstances. “If there was anyone who could overcome this, it would be the crew who were on this ship.