El Faro Tragedy: Ten Years On, Some Key Safety Changes Have Yet to Take Hold

Ten years ago, Frank Hamm stood at the helm of a ship whose crew knew it was doomed.

[...]

Jonathan Waldron, a maritime lawyer at Blank Rome and 20-year veteran of the Coast Guard, said El Faro’s sinking put a focus on classification societies’ important role in the safety of US-flag shipping.

Oversight role

“And the Coast Guard has an as important role in conducting oversight,” he said.

But he noted that the agency has limited resources.

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"El Faro Tragedy: Ten Years On, Some Key Safety Changes Have Yet to Take Hold," by Eric Priante Martin, was published in TradeWinds on October 1, 2025.