El Faro Family Relief Fund – Here’s How You Can Help

TOTE Maritime, owners of the cargo ship El Faro, said Friday that it has set up a family relief fund for the 33 families of the El Faro crew.

The fund will be held and administered by the Seamen’s Church Institute, North America’s largest mariners’ service agency.

“Over the last few days we have had hundreds of employees, mariners, customers and individuals from around the country inquire about where to donate in support of the families” noted Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE. “This fund will ensure that 100 percent of all gifts goes directly to the families as they deal with the loss of a loved one. We continue to keep the families and loved ones of the crew of the El Faro in our thoughts and prayers.”

TOTE will also be establishing an education fund for the children of the El Faro crew members that will support diverse educational needs.

Details: El Faro Family Relief Fund

TOTE Maritime has identified the crew members as:

Louis Marko Champa, Refrigeration Engineer, 51, Palm Coast, Florida.

Jack Edward Jackson, Able Seaman, 60, Jacksonville, Florida

Theodore Earl Quammie, Steward-Baker, 66, Jacksonville, Florida

Roosevelt Lazarra Clark, General Utility-Deck, Engine, 38, Jacksonville, Florida

Jackie Robert Jones Jr., Able Seaman, 38, Jacksonville, Florida

Danielle Laura Randolph, 2nd Mate, 34, Rockland, Maine

Sylvester C. Crawford Jr., Qualified Member-Engine Dept., 40, Lawrencville, Georgia

Lonnie S. Jordan, Assistant Steward, 35, Jacksonville, Florida

Jeremie Harold Riehm, 3rd Mate, 46, Camden, Delaware

Michael Christopher Davidson, Master, 53, Windham, Maine,

Mitchell T Kuflik, 3rd Assistant Engineer, 26, Brooklyn, New York

Lashawn Lamonte Rivera, Chief Cook, 32, Jacksonville, Florida

Brookie Larry Davis, Able Seaman, 63, Jacksonville, Florida

Roan Ronald Lightfoot, Bosun, 54, Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Howard John Schoenly, 2nd Assistant Engineer, 51, Cape Coral, Florida

Keith William Griffin, 1st Assistant Engineer, 33, Fort Meyers, Florida

Jeffrey Mathias, TOTE Services Chief Engineer, 42, Kingston, Massachusetts

Steven Wink Shultz, Chief Mate, 54, Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Frank J. Hamm, Able Seaman, 49, Jacksonville, Florida

Dylan O. Meklin, 3rd Assistant Engineer, 23, Rockland, Maine

German Arturo Solar-Cortes, Oiler Maintenance Utility, 51, Orlando, Florida

Joe Edward Hargrove, Oil Maintenance Utility, 65, Orange Park, Florida

James Phillip Porter, General Utility Deck Engineer, 40, Jacksonville, Florida

Anthony Shawn Thomas, Oiler Maintenance Utility, 47, Jacksonville, Florida

Carey J. Hatch, Able Seaman, 49, Jacksonville, Florida

Richard Joseph Pusatere, Chief Engineer, 34, Virginia Beach, Florida

Mariette Wright, General Utility-Deck Engine, 51, St. Augustine, Florida

Michael Lee Holland, 3rd Assistant Engineer, 25, North Wilton, Maine

Polish Contractors

Marcin Nita, 34, Poland

Jan Podgorski, 43, Poland

Rafal Andrzej Zdovych, 42, Poland

Plotr Merek Krause, 27, Poland

Andrzej Roman Truszkowski, 52, Poland

Details: El Faro Family Relief Fund

El Faro cargo ship was expected to make Tacoma-Alaska run this winter

”ILWU Local 23 took a moment at the beginning of the shift at TOTE Wednesday night to say farewell to the ship ‘El Faro’ that sank last week in the Bahamas, and to have a moment of silence for the 33 crew members who tragically lost their lives. The captain of the TOTE vessel behind us is taking the wreath we gave him up to Alaska to throw it in the water where that vessel spent most of her life bringing goods from Tacoma to Anchorage for 20 plus years.” — From ILWU Local 23

Our condolences go out to the families, friends and colleagues of the 33 crew members of El Faro

From the Seattle Times:

The El Faro cargo ship that has been missing since Hurricane Joaquin hit the Bahamas last week was expected to return to Tacoma this fall after serving as a lifeline to Puerto Rico for the last nine years.

The El Faro was going to relieve a Tacoma ship being sent out for liquefied natural-gas conversion this winter, said John Parrott, president of Federal Way-based TOTE Maritime Alaska, a subsidiary of TOTE Inc. The subsidiary TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico owns the El Faro vessel.

The El Faro, on a course from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been missing since Oct. 1 as it sailed through the Bahamas at the height of the storm. It is still unclear how the missing ship will impact the TOTE Maritime Alaska operations, which offers twice-weekly cargo-ship service between the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Anchorage.

Read the Rest at the Seattle Times