The El Faro Memorial- Honoring Those Lost at Sea

The El Faro Memorial honors a crew or 33 that were lost at sea in October of 2015. The cargo ship departed Jacksonville, Florida headed for Puerto Rico on the fateful evening of September 29th. When the ship set sail, a small tropical storm spiraled several hundred miles east. Two days later, Hurricane Joaquin became a Category 3 (almost a 4) hurricane. El Faro most likely got caught up in the 20 to 40 foot swells and 80 knot winds, tangled up in the treacherous Bermuda Triangle.

At 7:30 AM on the morning of October 1, the ship began taking on water and was listing at 15 degrees. At that time, the captain gave the order to abandon ship. The following day, the ship was declared missing and an extensive search was launched by the US Coast Guard with assistance from the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Navy. A damaged lifeboat and debris were recovered.

The ship was declared sunk on October 5th and the search was called off on October 7th. More than 242,000 square miles was covered in search for the 33 crewman and the El Faro.

On October 31, the US Navy sent an ocean tug, known as Apache, to conduct an underwater search. The following day the Navy announced that they found the wreckage in tact and in an upright position approximately 15,000 feet underwater.

A deflated life raft and an extremely damaged lifeboat were discovered but no one was on board.

The El Faro Memorial

Twin memorials were erected in remembrance of the one woman and thirty-two men lost in this tragedy. One stands proudly in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the other is located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville El Faro Memorial is located under the Dames Pointe Bridge not far from where the cargo ship set sail.

The Jacksonville El Faro Memorial is a popular fishing spot. The city is attempting to keep this sacred ground clean however, it can sometimes be a struggle.

Visitors to the El Faro Memorial often leave the crew members painted rocks and candles to pay their respects. Don’t be surprised to see a bunch of beer bottles and beer cans around the memorial, as well. Visitors will often leave the crew members a beer to enjoy in the after life.

The El Faro Memorial Park is located at 9101 Dames Point Road directly under the Dames Point Bridge. It is accessible via the Zoo Parkway exit off of the 295 Beltway.

Turn left on New Berlin Road and follow the road past the onramp for the beltway. Shortly after the on-ramp, there is a stop sign. Take a right at the stop sign and follow the road towards the river. The park will be on your left hand side.

What is there to do Nearby?

There are plenty of great things to do nearby! This side of town is dotted with excellent beaches, parks, and historic sites. Our suggestions include:

Black Rock Beach
Little Talbot Island State Park
Big Talbot Island State Park
Huguenot Memorial Park
Kingsley Plantation
Jacksonville Zoo
Yellow Bluff Fort

The El Faro Memorial is a quick drive from the Jacksonville Cruise Terminal. If you are cruising out of Jacksonville, be sure to check out our list of things for cruisers to do in Jacksonville!

If you are looking for somewhere to eat while you’re in the area, we suggest stopping by Palms Fish Camp. There are also several other restaurants located nearby at the River City Market Place.