Lawrence Brennan, an adjunct professor of maritime law at Fordham, was quoted in a Washington Post article about the “black box” that was recently retrieved from the wreckage of the freighter El Faro, which sank in 15,000-feet of water near the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin last year.
Brennan told the Washington Post that if the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) can retrieve the data from the recorder, it will provide “voices from the grave.” This information could greatly enhance investigators’ understanding of who, ultimately, was at fault for the deaths of 33 people and lead to new safety requirements.
“The whole purpose of this, in addition to the legal ramifications to come, is to enhance the safety of life at sea. Tragedies like this have to be avoided.”
