The University of Rhode Island’s Inner Space Center won high praise from federal investigators in December for its role in locating the data recorder of the doomed El Faro cargo ship.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a transcript of audio recordings from the data recorder, which the Center helped locate in 15,000 feet of water off the Bahamas in 2016.

The Center—the only one of its kind in the country—installed cutting-edge telepresence technology on the research vessel Atlantis, the Office of Naval Research ship that conducted the search.

That technology provided “secure, high-speed, high-volume video and data transmission from the seafloor to the Atlantis and then via satellite to NTSB headquarters for analysis while the mission was in progress,’’ says Christopher Hart, chairman of the NTSB, calling it “invaluable assistance.’’

Dwight F. Coleman, Center director, says he was honored to work on such an important investigation to assist in “bringing closure to the families who lost loved ones.’’

It likely won’t be the last. “We hope to work closely with the NTSB during future investigations that involve any kind of maritime loss, including plane accidents,’’ said Coleman. “Our expertise can be crucial to these types of probes, especially when you’re fighting against time.’’

The 790-foot El Faro, loaded with shipping containers and cars, sank during Hurricane Joaquin, a Category 4 storm, on its way from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico. All 33 crew members—28 Americans and five Polish nationals—died.