Jenny, yes, vessels are required to be seaworthy.  These vessels also have "AIS" and LRIT.. both electronic gadgets that broadcast their position, at least up until the moment of sinking.  Where this ship went down should not be a mystery to the USCG.  It would be next to impossible to salvage at the depths it sunk.   Let's be thankful no one died.  I lost 5 former "shipmates" when the AK Ranger went down.