“We were informed that they were going to conduct routine engine maintenance on it while it was in port and that’s the only thing we were informed about the vessel in that regard,” Gilreath told reporters.

In past cases, the voyage data recorder provided key details.

When the cargo vessel El Faro sank in 2015 near the Bahamas after sailing into the path of Hurricane Joaquin, investigators went to great lengths to find the wreckage and retrieve its voyage data recorder. It was pulled from more than 15,000 feet below sea level on the third attempt. That effort resulted in a lengthy transcript of more than 500 pages.

The chilling account includes a narration of the captain deciding to ring the general alarm to wake everyone up, saying, “We’re definitely not in good shape right now.” Shortly after, a chief mate investigated the situation on one deck and reported water was “chest deep.” Three minutes after the alarm bell rang, the captain said, “Bow is down, bow is down.”

Roughly 10 minutes later, someone called out “I’m gone” or “I’m a goner.” The captain yelled, “No, you’re not.” The audio recording ended less than a minute later.

An earlier NTSB investigation into the Delta Mariner striking the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge in Kentucky in 2012 relied on a simplified voyage data recorder onboard. It captured audio from the pilothouse, as well as location, speed, rate of turn and depth.

The report found that 15 minutes before the impact, someone called out that the vessel was approaching a bridge. It quoted the contract pilot discussing the position of lights on the bridge — saying “I’m thinking the red looks higher,” then moments later asking, “It is, ain’t it?” The transcripted reported that less than a minute later, he said: “Oh (expletive).”

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(Baltimore Sun reporters Dan Belson and Sam Janesch contributed to this article.)

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