I hope these men are all right.

But it's not looking good: the cargo ship El Faro has been reported missing as a result of Hurricane Joaquin.

The Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in Portsmouth, Virginia, said it received a satellite notification saying El Faro was overcome by the storm, lost propulsion and had taken on water.

The El Faro has a crew of 33. One of the wonders of our contemporary world is that, thanks to modern weather forecasting and improved construction, storms don't sink big ships very often. Here's hoping that is the case here, too.


They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.