It was months ago that we first learned El Faro’s boilers had been recommended for service- which was set to be addressed weeks after the sinking. Now, we’re getting a better idea of some of the specific mechanical issues the ship faced.
During testimony in front of the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation in to the El Faro sinking Friday, TOTE Services Director of Ship Management Jim Fisker-Andersen read from a survey that had been conducted, which showed problems with the specific boiler component called burner throats, which serve as a passageway.
“Burner throats have deteriorated severely, especially between number one and number three burners. Cracking and loss of material, plus heavy buildup of fuel, is present in all three throats,” Fisker-Andersen read from the report.
While the survey itself isn't being publicly released at this time, the Coast Guard confirmed to WOKV that this survey was done in September, and a representative involved in that will be speaking later in the investigation. The NTSB had previously cited a boiler inspection report from September, saying the report recommended the boilers be serviced.
Fisker-Andersen confirmed that while both of the boilers had been examined by the El Faro’s crew in July, only the starboard’s boiler interior was independently surveyed in September. Fisker-Andersen said they planned to use the results of that survey and extrapolate it to the port boiler. He says they would commonly get such a survey ahead of a planned dry dock to see what kind of work needed to be addressed.
Fisker-Andersen says- after consulting various boiler experts- they determined the work outlined in the survey could be done during that November drydock, and weren’t “show stoppers”. He says if there was a need for urgent repairs, they would handle them as such.
He further confirmed the boilers could undergo work while the ship was at sea. Fisker-Andersen says there had been several occasions where the crew would shut down one boiler and perform routine maintenance on it while transiting from San Juan, Puerto Rico back to Jacksonville. He says they would do the boiler maintenance on this northbound route, instead of the reverse, because there is already extra time built in to the schedule. In addition to notifying the Coast Guard they would be operating with one boiler, the ship would also bring an extra tow on the voyage.
Overall, Fisker-Andersen told the Board the El Faro was in good operating condition ahead of the sinking in Hurricane Joaquin, and that the company doesn’t defer needed maintenance, because that only creates bigger issues.
WOKV is at the MBOI hearing and will continue to bring you instant updates on Twitter.