A U.S. Navy salvage team is preparing to launch a remotely operated submersible to confirm that wreckage discovered near the Bahamas is that of the cargo ship El Faro, lost in a hurricane last month.
The 790-foot El Faro vanished on October 1 with 33 crew members during Hurricane Joaquin.
Authorities said they aim to survey the wreckage and hope to locate a voyage data recorder — the ship's "black box" - that could yield clues as to what happened.
If human remains are encountered during the submersible operation, the Navy will attempt to recover them, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said.
El Faro's captain made a distress call before the vessel disappeared, saying the ship had lost engine power during its voyage from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
An extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard found only floating debris and one body in a survival suit, which was not recovered.