Asked twice if he wanted to steer farther south, Capt. Michael Davidson stuck to his course, believing he would safely skirt Hurricane Joaquin. El Faro sank hours later, killing all 33 aboard.

Investigators hope the device can provide information about what led to the sinking of the cargo ship last fall, killing its entire crew, including five people with Maine ties.

The recovery operation will be closely watched here in Maine because several crew members had close ties to the state.

A second round of hearings into the freighter’s sinking in a hurricane is focusing on the ship’s stability, cargo loading and the weather.