JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on U.S. Coast Guard investigative hearings into the sinking of the El Faro.
A National Hurricane Center official who oversees storm prediction says early forecasts for the storm that became Hurricane Joaquin contained significant errors.
James Franklin, branch chief of the center's hurricane specialist unit, testified Tuesday before the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, which is looking into the sinking of the freighter El Faro.
The El Faro sank Oct. 1 after losing propulsion and getting caught in Category 4 Hurricane Joaquin. All 33 aboard died.
Franklin says Joaquin was forecast as a "relatively weak system" that would head west-northwest and dissipate in the days when the El Faro was sailing between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.
Instead, Joaquin moved south-southwest and strengthened into a strong hurricane.
El Faro Capt. Michael Davidson was aware of the storm, and chose to take a faster, less safe route.
