Testimony: El Faro captain planned to 'shoot under' storm

(AP) — The captain of the doomed freighter El Faro told a colleague just before the ship's final voyage that he was aware of a storm brewing at sea, but that he had a plan to go under it, testimony at an investigative hearing revealed on Monday.

Eric Bryson, the pilot who sailed the El Faro out of the Port of Jacksonville on its final voyage, testified before the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation that is probing the disaster.

Bryson said he remembered no irregularities with the 790-foot cargo ship, and that its crew was acting normally as it prepared to sail Sept. 29 to Puerto Rico.

Testimony also showed that Tote officials did not actively chart weather systems that may pose a safety concern for the company's fleet.

Only then did he realize Joaquin was bearing down on the El Faro.

Since the El Faro's sinking, Tote has upgraded the weather tracking systems available to its fleet.