All 33 crew died when the El Faro disappeared sailing from Florida to Puerto Rico in October 2015.
Its wreckage was discovered a month later but search crews were not able to retrieve the black box until now.
It is hoped the data will help determine what happened in the final hours before the boat's sinking.
"The recovery of the recorder has the potential to give our investigators greater insight into the incredible challenges that the El Faro crew faced,'' said Christophe Hart, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The black box was found in April this year but only recovered after search crews drove a remotely operated vehicle down to the ship's resting place to remove it.
Hearings earlier this year looked at Captain Michael Davidson's decision to leave port with a huge storm brewing, and the safety record of the ship's owner, Tote Services.
A panel found that Davidson was aware of the hurricane and had planned a safer route but may have had out-of-date weather advice.
The El Faro sent out a distress signal on 1 October, saying it had lost power and was taking on water
The ship was eventually found 15,000 ft (4,570m) under the sea. A body wearing a survival suit was recovered shortly after the sinking, as was a heavily damaged lifeboat with no one aboard.

The seats in the Grand Tier are located five boxes away from the royal box in the Grade I listed building.
Agents Harrods Estates said it was the first time such a box had come on the market in almost a decade and there had "already been a bit of interest".
Buying the box will give the owner access to two-thirds of events.
They will also become a member of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Science which helps to operate the South Kensington building.
Nicholas Shaw of Harrods Estates said it was "the most expensive box we have ever offered for sale".
The box is on the western side of the auditorium and has approximately 849 years remaining on its lease.
A five-seat box situated on the second tier, whose previous owners included Earl Spencer and the Duke of Devonshire, went on sale in 2011 for £550,000.
Search teams have recovered the black box data recorder from a cargo ship that sank last year near the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A 12-seat private box in the Royal Albert Hall close to where the Queen sits when she attends events has gone on sale for £2.5m.