El Faro Owner Agrees to Pay 3 Maine Families in Settlement 

PHOTO COURTESY: National Transportation Safety Board. New Photo of the El Faro freighter that sank in a hurricane.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The families of three Maine residents who died when the cargo ship El Faro sank in October have accepted settlements from the ship’s owner.

Court documents say the El Faro’s owner, Tote Services Inc., has agreed to pay $500,000 to the families of Michael Holland, Danielle Randolph and Dylan Meklin for “pre-death pain and suffering” and an unspecified amount for economic loss caused by the deaths.

The Portland Press Herald reports the notice filed Tuesday in Jacksonville, Florida, means the company has settled with the families of 14 of the 33 crew members who died. It has said that is pursuing settlements with the families of all the victims.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates Keith Griffin, 33, and Jeffrey Mathias, 44, were among those who died.

The 790-foot-long El Faro sank in Hurricane Joaquin Oct. 1 while sailing from Jacksonville to San Juan, Puerto Rico.