The team’s mission is to document the shipwreck and any debris field, and to retrieve the sunken vessel’s voyage data recorder – similar to an airplane’s black box – as part of an investigation into its loss, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
If human remains are encountered during the submersible operation the Navy will attempt to recover them, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.
It was the worst maritime accident involving a U.S.-flag vessel since 1983.
The cargo ship’s owner, Tote Inc., has been hit with four lawsuits filed by relatives of the crew, alleging the ship was not seaworthy and should have changed course to avoid Hurricane Joaquin.