12:56

PM EST February 15, 2017 Jordan Ferrell

Polish crew aboard El Faro not given

adequate survival instruction
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Following a heated testimony from a former
TOTE able seaman detailing what he considered foul play aboard the
vessel, Wednesday’s hearings started out with a telephonic swearing in
of a Polish electrician who sailed aboard the SS El Faro prior to its
sinking.

Mr. Marek Pupp, a former INTEC Polish crew member, began his
translated testimony with a cross-examination from Marine Board
Member Keith Fawcett.

After some di culty deciding the best way to translate his testimony, a
Polish-speaking US Coast Guard was brought up to the podium to
better translate the communication.

The line of questioning directed towards Pupp revolved around initial

instruction the Polish crew members received when arriving to the SS
El Faro. Pupp testi ed that while he was given a tour, he was never
formally shown life vests or survival suiting. According to Pupp, he
does remember seeing them in closets.

Pupp further clari ed that he never tried once tried on a life vest or
survival suit during his time aboard the El Faro. When questioned about
safety drills, Pupp testi ed that the Polish crews were never included.
The Polish-speaking crew members would continue their electrical
work while others aboard would conduct drills, according to Pupp.

According to Pupp, his job aboard the El Faro consisted of replacing and
repairing electrical cabling that controlled the vessel’s loading ramp.
This work, Pupp says, was to be completed prior to the ship’s transition
into Alaskan routes.
Fawcett’s line of questioning turned towards Pupp’s knowledge of
water-tight doors in the engine room. When questioned if Pupp ever
spent time in the engine room, he replied that he would occasionally
pass through to get tools or use the restroom.

Pupp was further questioned about the water-tight doors being left
open or if he remembers them being closed, but due to some confusion,
either in the translation or uncertainty on Pupp’s part, he was unable to
answer the question from Fawcett.

Before concluding his line of questioning, Fawcett asked Pupp if he was

ever noti ed of an impending storm or hurricane prior to his voyage
out of Jacksonville. Pupp said he doesn’t remember ever being told
about such conditions.

Pupp noted that he remembers times when the vessel was sailing
through heavy weather that consisted of “humongous waves” crashing
onto the deck. When asked by US Coast Guard Capt. Neubauer if there
were workers present where the waves were hitting, Pupp said no.

The NTSB line of questioning again focused on Pupp’s introduction to

the ship, speci cally regarding safety equipment. And Pupp reiterated
that he was given an initial tour, but there were no further meetings –
that he or his Polish crew were involved in – regarding the operations
of safety equipment, like life vests or survival suits. Pupp added that he
was never assigned a life boat, to his knowledge.

When the Marine Board turned over the hearings to the parties of
interest, the attorney for Tote brought forward their own Polish-
speaking translator. Tote rst questioned Pupp on his knowledge of the
ship’s layout in regards to the vessel’s bridge. Pupp said that while he
was never on it, he was aware of where it was in relation to the El Faro.
Pupp, when questioned about alarms going o on the El Faro, said he
doesn’t remember hearing them while aboard.

After a brief recess, Pupp was then shown a picture of a water-tight

door leading to an engine room aboard a vessel similar to that of the El
Faro. Pupp was again asked – this time by Capt. Neubauer – if he
remembers seeing these doors aboard the El Faro and if he remembers
them being closed or left open. After some discussion with his attorney,
Pupp says he has seen these types of doors before, but he can’t
speci cally remember seeing them aboard the El Faro.

Shortly before the hearing broke for lunch, Pupp said that the El Faro
was not in “100 percent” condition, and he remembers there being a lot
of rust aboard the vessel. Pupp added that he believes there were a great
deal of “plumbers” aboard the vessel, due to the wastage seen on
piping.

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