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U.S. Coast Guard To Hold Hearings On 'El Faro' Sinking

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The U.S. Coast Guard will hold hearings into the sinking of El Faro which took the lives of 33 crew members while sailing on the Atlantic.

The first hearing will focus on the events leading up to the sinking- considered the worst U.S. maritime disaster in 35 years.

Topics set to be covered during the hearing - starting on February 16th - include El Faro's regulatory compliance record, crew member duties and qualifications, past operations and the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue operations.

In another hearing, set for a later date, they will cover in detail the last voyage including cargo loading, weather conditions and navigation.

The  National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which conducted its own investigation will also participate in the hearings held at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville.

Related: Investigators Consider Search For El Faro's "Black Box"

Coast Guard officials said the investigation will determine, as closely as possible, the factors that contributed to the accident. This includes whether there is evidence into acts of "misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence or willful violation of the law" or if there is evidence any Coast Guard official caused or contributed to the casualties.

El Faro sunk in Hurricane Joaquin back in October 2015 while sailing from Jacksonville to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It now lies three miles beneath the Atlantic's infamous Bermuda Triangle.

Click here for more on the sinking of El Faro.

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