JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While National Transportation Safety Board officials are waiting to confirm if wreckage a search team on board the USNS Apache found is that of the cargo ship El Faro, families of the lost crew members say it gives them hope some answers of what happened will finally be known.
The cargo ship from Jacksonville went missing Oct. 1 during Hurricane Joaquin. NTSB officials said it was found at a depth of about 15,000 feet in the vicinity of the last known position.
Barry Young's nephew, LaShawn Rivera (pictured below), was one of 28 Americans and five Polish nationals on the ship.
IMAGES: Crew members aboard El Faro
"In speaking to his father just a few minutes ago, we all definitely are pleased to know that it has been located because hopefully it will shed more light on some things. We are just hoping for closure totally on this whole issue," Young said. "To see Shawn brought back home by whatever state it is, we would like to see him brought home."
Young told News4Jax that his family is in pain because there is no closure.
Young said he hopes that crews can lift the ship.
"We hope that when they do if they can pull it up, which I know is not an easy situation with the depth that they're at, we hope that something if nothing else something can bring us some closure. I hate to even say remains, but in all reality if he's there, we would like that," said Young.
Young told News4Jax he has been in contact with other people who had loved ones on the ship.
"They all wanted to find their loved one, whether they were alive or not, they wanted to have them home. That was their main objective," said Young.
Sunday on The Morning Show, maritime expert and attorney Rod Sullivan said he believes it would be nearly impossible to find the remains of crew members at the depth of where the ship would be. He also said he believes it would not be possible for crews to lift the ship.