Tuesday, Sept. 29: El Faro departs, with a crew of 33 and a cargo that includes cars and retail goods, from Jacksonville, Florida, for San Juan, Puerto Rico. As of 5 a.m. on the day of departure, then-Tropical Storm Joaquin has maximum wind speeds of 40 mph and is located about 385 miles northeast of the central Bahamas, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Joaquin intensifies from a tropical storm to a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. In early morning, it is about 215 miles east-northeast of the Central Bahamas, heading southwest at 6 mph.

Thursday, Oct. 1: All communication with El Faro is lost at 7:20 a.m. after the crew reports the ship losing power and taking on water as it passes near Crooked Island in the southeastern Bahamas. Hurricane Joaquin is now a Category 3, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and higher gusts.

Friday, Oct. 2: The Coast Guard deploys the cutter Northland, an MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew based in Great Inagua, Bahamas, and HC-130 Hercules airplanes from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida, to search for the El Faro. No trace of the ship is found.

Saturday, Oct. 3: Searchers find a life ring from the El Faro about 120 miles northeast of Crooked Island. The ship’s last known position was about 35 miles northeast of Crooked Island. Navy and Air Force planes and vessels hired by the El Faro’s owner assist in the search.

Sunday, Oct. 4: A large debris field that appears to include material from the ship and a sheen of oil on the sea surface is discovered. The company says it has found a container from the ship.

Monday, Oct. 5: The Coast Guard determines the ship sank in 15,000 feet of water. It reports finding the body of a crew member and an empty life boat.

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