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Tote ignores warnings on Hurricane Matthew, one year on from El Faro sinking

Tote Maritime says they plan to continue their regular liner schedule despite Hurricane Matthew wreaking havoc in the Caribbean, reports ABC’s First Coast News.

The business as usual approach from Tote comes despite warnings that Hurricane Matthew is more intense than last October’s Hurricane Joaquin which caused the sinking of Tote’s El Faro off the Bahamas. The entire crew of 33 were lost.

First Coast News says that Tote Maritime will continue as planned along their Jacksonville to Puerto Rico route, and vessels will continue to sail towards Puerto Rico today. When asked whether the company planned to make any changes because of the hurricane, it responded saying: “Our crews are trained to deal with unfolding weather situations and are prepared to respond to emerging situations while at sea. TOTE Services has great confidence in its highly experienced officers.”

Isla Bella, the vessel that replaced El Faro, is scheduled to depart Jacksonville for Puerto Rico on Friday, coinciding with when the hurricane is expected to be closest to the coast.

The US Navy said on Sunday it was preparing to airlift hundreds of non-essential personnel from its Guantanamo Bay base on Cuba as a precaution.

Grant Rowles

Grant spent nine years at Informa Group based in London, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore. He gained strong management experience in publishing, conferences and awards schemes in the shipping and legal areas, working on a number of titles including Lloyd's List. In 2009 Grant joined Seatrade responsible for the commercial development of Seatrade’s Asia products. In 2012, with Sam Chambers, he co-founded Asia Shipping Media.

Comments

  1. Wow! I, told you people this year and last years about Tote Logistics, I, see ordering a ship to sail in view of oncoming hurricane did not do it, and ship and thirty, (33) three crew people, died for Tote. Tote has also paid enough lawyers to escape billion dollar lawsuit and U.S. Coast Guard, Getting paid to hide the real facts., Now Tote Executive, are doing it again, except this time they are doing it right in front of the public, because they can, you though Hillary Clinton was bad.

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