The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday mentioned it could launch a second expedition to seek for proof in its investigation of the lack of the cargo ship El Faro, which sank within the Atlantic throughout a hurricane on October 1, 2015.

A key goal of the upcoming mission will likely be find the lacking voyage information recorder and to supply investigators with a extra in depth and detailed survey of the shipwreck.

The actual launch date is anticipated to start in April and final about two weeks, though the precise launch date will likely be introduced at a later date.

“The voyage data recorder may hold vital information about the challenges encountered by the crew in trying to save the ship,” mentioned NTSB Chairman Christopher A. Hart. “Getting that information could be very helpful to our investigation.”

RELATED: First Photos and Video of El Faro Wreckage

The 790-foot ship was positioned in about 15,000 toes of water close to the Bahamas on October 31. Over the next few weeks, the ship and the particles subject had been documented with a video digicam mounted on a remotely operated automobile.

Video revealed that the navigation bridge construction and the deck beneath it had separated from the ship. The lacking construction included the mast and its base the place the VDR was mounted, but neither the mast nor the VDR was discovered within the neighborhood. The preliminary search mission was accomplished on November 15.

After reviewing the information and video of the wreckage, investigators decided {that a} return mission to El Faro was warranted.

In the upcoming search, a search space of roughly 35 sq. kilometers (13.5 sq. miles) will likely be photo- and video-documented by Sentry, an autonomous underwater automobile (AUV) that will likely be launched from the analysis vessel Atlantis, owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Sentry can work at depths of practically 20,000 toes and could be geared up with a big selection of sonar, digicam and different sensors.

A VDR of the sort that was mounted on El Faro is able to recording conversations and sounds on the navigation bridge, which may present investigators with necessary proof as they search to grasp the sequence of occasions that led to the sinking. Investigators additionally hope to acquire prime quality photos of the bridge, particles subject, and hull.

If the VDR is positioned, one other mission utilizing a remotely operated automobile able to recovering the recorder will likely be initiated.