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Shipwreck

How a Captain, Company, and Culture Sank the SS El Faro

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Shipwreck

By: Maeve McGoran
Narrated by: Maeve McGoran
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2015 saw the worst American maritime disaster in decades. The captain of the SS El Faro commanded his crew to sail straight into a hurricane. The ship sank and all 33 crew members died.

The sinking raised troubling questions: Why did the captain choose to sail into the hurricane? Why did no one on board or on shore stop him? And why was such an old and heavily loaded ship even allowed on the water?

The crew of the SS El Faro is gone, but their haunting final hours were preserved by the ship’s black box. In Shipwreck, we hear immersive reenactments from their last voyage and new revelations from investigators, crew members’ families, and mariners who sailed on previous voyages of the El Faro. The narrative investigation reveals how corporate greed, government indifference, and a culture of obedience led to the shocking outcome.

The same forces that sank the El Faro are still at work today—not just in cargo shipping, but across the entire maritime industry, which carries millions of passengers every year.

What happened to the El Faro wasn't just a tragedy. It was a warning we can't afford to ignore.

Special thanks to the Fund for Investigative Journalism for helping fund this reporting.

©2025 Sugar23 Podcast Group, LLC (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC Engineering Labor & Industrial Relations Politics & Government True Crime White Collar & Corporate Crime
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All stars
Most relevant
It’s very painful to hear this story, but it’s a must listen for everyone. It highlights the conflict of people’s worth and corporate greed. Excellent investigative reporting and well presented audio book.

Outstanding story

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I loved everything about this listen, performance was great, very informative and well written. I was completely captivated.

Excellent listen

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some repetition in each chapter. however good character relation and build of intricate aspects of the impact of the disaster.
so awful for those on ship and loved ones left abandoned without explanation 💔

presentation well thought through

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.