2 Massachusetts Maritime Grads Among Crew On Sunken U.S. Ship

Updated October 05, 2015

The Associated Press

Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of response for the Coast Guard 7th District, talks to reporters during a news conference, Monday in Opa-locka, Fla. (Alan Diaz/AP)

Two graduates of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy are among crew members missing from a U.S. cargo ship that sank near the Bahamas after encountering heavy seas from Hurricane Joaquin.

A spokesman for the college said Monday that Jeffrey Mathias, a Kingston resident and 1996 engineering graduate, was aboard the El Faro.

The college also confirmed earlier that 2005 graduate Keith Griffin, originally from Winthrop, was an engineer on the cargo ship.

The El Faro departed from Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 29, when Joaquin was still a tropical storm. The ship had 33 crew members, and it was heading to Puerto Rico on a regular cargo supply run when contact was lost.

The college's president, Rear Adm. Francis McDonald, said the school sends its thoughts and prayers to the families while continuing to hold out hope.

This article was originally published on October 05, 2015.