CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - The Coast Guard is searching for a cargo ship that has gone missing amidst Hurricane Joaquin's massive waves off the coast of the Bahamas.
The USCG says 33 people are aboard the El Faro, a 735-foot cargo ship that was headed for San Juan from Jacksonville.
Yesterday morning, the Coast Guard command center in Virginia received an alert via satellite that the ship had lost propulsion and had a 15-degree list. The crew reported the ship had previously taken on water, but that all flooding had been contained.
Two Air Force Hurricane Hunter planes attempted to contact or find the ship Thursday, without any luck. A Coast Guard HC-130 crew from Clearwater has also been unable to find the ship.
The Coast Guard says crews remain on the scene and will continue search efforts by both air and sea.
Joaquin remains a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, with waves as high as 27 feet near its eye.
LINK: Track Joaquin on MyFoxHurricane.com