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"Deeply grieved" TOTE Services chief talks safety systems

Safety systems taking center stage at the second day of the Marine Board of Investigation on the El Faro sinking.

Through the entire morning session, panelists questioned TOTE Services President Phil Greene. During many of his answers, however, Greene noted that the investigators were asking him for specifics that were beyond his knowledge because other people handled it, and they only rose to him when there was an issue.

GALLERY: Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation

Greene started out by making a short statement, saying he is “deeply grieved by the event itself, the loss of our mariners,” and thanking the Coast Guard for the work they did to try to find the 33 crew members after the ship went down in Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin.  While much of the time was spent with Greene breaking down the corporate structure of TOTE Services and what he called third-party clients, like TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, he admitted that as operator of the El Faro and other ships, they have responsibility for safety measures on board.

One panelist repeatedly asked Greene whether they have specific contingency plans for specific emergency situations which integrate ship and shore response- like how to handle if the ship were grounded both on board and through the company. Greene did not have specifics. He was also unsure whether the safety management system coding they used specifically accounted for severe weather.

VIDEO: Underwater wreckage of El Faro

TOTE Services’ Director of Marine Services and Safety Lee Peterson also testified today- and one panelist prompted him to point out that at least one portion of their adverse weather plan hadn’t been updated since early 1996. Peterson says he was aware of Hurricane Joaquin, but not actively tracking it, and he doesn’t remember any substantial talk around the office either.

Greene says he relies on people below him to deal with any incidents reported, ensure the proper audits and checks were being done, and more. He emphasized the role the ship Master played in that accountability, and when asked whether TOTE Services reviews past voyages to make sure they were done safely, he said there hasn’t been a need to. Peterson added, however, that if a ship performs a drill and gets bad results they aren’t required to report it to TOTE Services.

As we saw in testimony from a different executive on the first day of the hearing, Greene said time and again today that it was the responsibility of the Captain to plan the ship’s voyage, and could adjust- as needed- in the interest off the safety of the ship and crew.  The Marine Board Chair at one point asked- hypothetically- who in TOTE would be able to intervene if the Master laid out a bad plan. Greene said that wouldn’t happen.

He later revisited that answer to ensure the Board, however, that the company would- and has- taken recourse on Captains “for administrative reasons”.

Peterson was asked why El Faro didn't use an alternate route to get around Joaquin- as it had for Erika. His only response was "I wish I could answer".

As for the crew itself, Greene says they don’t provide any training beyond what mariners undergo for the schooling and certification. Peterson says they have- in the last two months- added a formal Powerpoint orientation for new mariners.  He was surprised to see the turnover rate on El Faro, specifically among Chief Mates. Ultimately, however, he says it’s not unusual because there was competition for spots on the newer ships.

During Tuesday’s session, another executive in TOTE Services told the Board the company implemented a new fleet tracking and weather system in the aftermath of El Faro’s sinking. Green downplayed the connection on Wednesday, saying instead they tested the system during the transit of another ship, found it to be a good product, and decided to roll it out.

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