The families of 10 seafarers who died when the El Faro sank in a storm near the Bahamas last October have agreed to take $500,000 each to settle pending lawsuits against the vessel’s owner, Tote Maritime.
Cases involving the other 23 crewmembers remain pending. Some families have attempted to sue the shipowner for millions, citing the 40-year-old ship’s structural soundness.
A spokesperson for Tote said the agreement is part of the company’s attempt to reach “fair and swift legal settlements for those who may choose them.”
