A cargo ship that has five Mainers in its crew, among others, is missing in the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Joaquin.

The father of a crewman on the El Faro says several of those on board are from Maine. Karl Melkin told the AP that his son Dylan, and three other crew members of the ship are from here.

Officials say the 735-foot El Faro was left port on September 29th, en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Jacksonville, Florida, with 33 people on board. They say it was due to arrive on October 5th, but they received notification that the ship had lost propulsion and was listing at 15 degrees after it started taking on water.

Meklin and his wife headed to Florida Saturday morning to be closer to the search that resumes today. The BDN reports a life preserver from the El Faro was discovered in the water, so searchers have taken to the air, looking for any other signs of the ship.

The paper identifies the Mainers on board as the captain, Michael Davidson of Windham, and Maine Maritime graduates Dylan Melkin and Danielle Randolph, both of Rockland, and Michael Holland of Wilton.

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