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Hurricane Joaquin: Hunt for missing cargo ship off Bahamas Missing ship: Oil and debris found in hunt for El Faro
(1 day later)
The US Coast Guard says it has resumed its search for a cargo ship with 33 crew that vanished in Bahamian waters during Hurricane Joaquin. US Coast Guards searching for a cargo ship with 33 crew on board that vanished in Bahamian waters during Hurricane Joaquin say they have spotted life jackets, rings and containers.
The 224-metre (735ft) El Faro, with 28 Americans and five Poles on board, was last heard from on Thursday and was reported to be taking on water. Rescue crews have also spotted an oil sheen on the water in the hunt for the 224m (735ft) El Faro, but cannot confirm the finds are from the ship.
The ship - which was travelling from Florida to Puerto Rico - was also believed to be listing at 15 degrees. Twenty-eight Americans and five Poles were on board the vessel.
It was last heard from on Thursday and was reported to be taking on water.
The El Faro - which was travelling from Florida to Puerto Rico - was also believed to be listing at 15 degrees after losing power and issuing a distress signal.
The US Coast Guard said it could not confirm that the objects spotted in the water were from the El Faro.
"The debris is scattered about over several miles," said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss.
"It's going to take some time to verify. The items would appear to be consistent with the missing ship."
'No sign'
The owners of the El Faro, Tote Maritime, said two vessels it dispatched to the scene had found a container "which appears to be from the El Faro".
There had been no sighting of the El Faro or any lifeboats, Tote Maritime Puerto Rico president Tim Nolan said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the 33 individuals aboard the ship and their families," he added.
Joaquin brought heavy rains to the Bahamas, damaging a number of houses.Joaquin brought heavy rains to the Bahamas, damaging a number of houses.
There have been no reports of casualties so far. The now-weaker Category Two storm - with sustained winds of 105 mph (165km/h) - has moved away from the island nation in the Atlantic after battering it for two days.
The now-weaker Category Four storm - with sustained winds of up to 210km/h (130mph) - is moving away from the island nation in the Atlantic. It is heading towards Bermuda.
US officials said they believed any threat to the East Coast was fading.
Big waves
"We're going to go and try and save lives," Coast Guard Cpt Mark Fedor said on Saturday, Associated Press reported.
"We're going to push it to the operational limits as far as we can.''
Cpt Fedor added that waves of up to nine metres and heavy winds could have destroyed El Faro's communications equipment.
The Coast Guard said it had already covered more than 850 sq miles (2,200 sq km) in the search for the vessel.
El Faro's owner, Florida-based TOTE Services, said it was working together with the Coast Guard to try to re-establish contact with the ship.