WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEWS CENTER) -- The sister of the El Faro's captain revealed new details about Michael Davidson's background on the ocean, explaining that he had earned the highest credential in the industry.
Leigh Miller is the sister of Michael Davidson, of Windham, who was the captain of the El Faro, which sank near Crooked Island after encountering a Hurricane Joaquin and losing propulsion.
Miller said that Davidson had more than 30 years of experience on ships. He got his first captain's license with Casco Bay Lines in 1987, after graduating from high school.
In 1988, Davidson graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with his third mate's license. After graduating from MMA, Davidson worked on oil tankers, delivering oil between California and Alaska. He progressed through the years, moving up in his career to second mate, chief mate, and he was able to get his initial Master's license in 1997.
In 2006, he earned his unlimited Master's license, allowing to master any ship of any gross tonnage on the ocean.
Many of the families of crew members from Maine, like Deb Roberts and Laurie Bobillot, the mothers of Michael Holland and Danielle Randolph, two other MMA graduates, stood by Davidson and his abilities.
"I'm not surprised that they are very supportive and understanding and know and trust in his experience, because in Maine that's what we do, we are people of the sea, and we know what it takes, and we trust in the people of me to be able to navigate to see, so I really appreciate the support we've gotten," said Leigh Miller. "I thought that he was i indestructible really, he was my superhero, he was all of our superhero."
Executives from TOTE, the company that owns the El Faro, initially said that it was the decision to set sail was up to the captain, but later said that the company had the power to veto the captain's decision and could modify or delay the trip.
Before this detail, mariners in Florida questioned what they believed was the captain's decision to set sail.
"In any unknown, there's always fear. I think fear brings anger, and I think that's understandable when people are grieving, and we just kind of throughout this whole situation I've been trying to understand, and be sympathetic to other people and how they are handling their grief," said Miller, on how she had handled media reports that showed mariners blaming Davidson.
TOTE executives also said that Davidson had no deadline or incentive to arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico by Friday, and that the conditions of Hurricane Joaquin were not as severe when he was initially planning the trip.
"I have no doubt in the captain. He has a tough call -- a real tough call to make, but I'm convinced he would never put his life or the crew's life in unnecessary danger," said Laurie Bobillot on Monday October 5. Bobillot is the mother of Danielle Randolph, another MMA graduate who died when the ship sunk.
The Coast Guard's search is currently suspended, and the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate what happened to El Faro and why.
"I just want the truth to come out -- whatever the truth may be," said Miller.
Miller established a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the continued education of Davidson's two daughters, a 19-year-old, and a 21-year-old, who are both students at the University of Southern Maine.
Here is the link to the page:
https://www.gofundme.com/michaeldavidson
