For 10 days, family members of men and women aboard El Faro's final voyage attended the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation hearings at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Several families who couldn’t attend watched from home.
Behind all the technical aspects discussed in the hearings, there were human faces of those who feel the pain of having lost a loved one aboard the voyage.
At times family members wept, especially when the final phone calls of the captain were played.
“I have a marine emergency,” said Capt. Michael Davidson in one of the calls.
Pastor Robert Green, whose son LaShawn Rivera was on board, said while it’s been a trying time for him and his family, he’s thankful the Coast Guard is investigating.
“We have to put the level of confidence in those people who have the expertise to do what they’re doing,” Green said.
Glen Jackson lost his brother Jack Jackson and traveled from New Orleans for the hearings.
He said the Coast Guard is being thorough but would like to see certain people subpoenaed for the next round of hearings.
“The fact that no former crew members who are not currently TOTE employees haven’t been subpoenaed for this session, I understand some may be for the next one. I think that would be crucial,” Jackson said.
According to the Marine Board of Investigation Chairman Capt. Jason Neubauer, that is something they're considering for the next session, but he wouldn't go into details.
The Marine Board of Investigation set up an email account that they read out loud at the beginning of every hearing in case someone had information pertinent to the investigation. Neubauer said the email proved useful.
"Not only are we getting questions, but we are getting a lot of leads and evidence so that has been very helpful," Neubauer said.
Green also has a few questions he’d like answered.
“If there is ever any possibility to confirm a presumption of their death and if those remains could ever be recovered?” Green said.
Jackson said he’s thankful the story is still alive, and the memories of those who died are being honored.
Families ultimately want changes made in the industry, so this never happens again. That was the main goal of the Marine Board of Investigation.
“Having the families [here] seeing how they’re having to deal with it,” Neubauer said. “I also see in the Coast Guard members and other company officials, seeing the emotional toll that something like this takes its that collectively that drives me to want to make sure it never happens again.”
Both Green and Jackson said they’re pleased with the efforts of the Marine Board of Investigation so far.
The witnesses who were called to testify were all placed under oath. Neubauer reaffirmed Friday that dishonest testimony is taken very seriously.
“I can warn everyone that the investigation is so thorough that it would be very dangerous to get up on the stand and tell lies to the board,” Neubauer said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is gearing up for its second search for El Faro’s voyage data recorder in mid-April. The Marine Board of Investigation will wait until the search is completed to announce a date the next session.