BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Cutting operations to separate the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck into two sections continues.
REMOVAL UPDATE
Wreck removal personnel continue cutting operations to separate the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck into two sections. Once the cut is complete, the VB-10,000 will lift Section Five onto a dry-dock barge for safe transit out of St. Simons Sound to a response facility south of Mayor’s Point Terminal. Section Four, the final section, will be lifted, stowed and transited following the same process as Section Five.
A time-lapse video shows the cutting chain cycling along the pre-cut groove on the hull-side of the Golden Ray wreck on Aug. 24. St. Simons Sound Incident response video by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jeremy Wilbanks.
The cutting chain advances to the top of the pre-cut groove on the hillside of the Golden Ray wreck on Friday during operations to separate the wreck into two sections. Once separated, each section will be lifted and stowed onto a dry-dock barge. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jeremy Wilbanks.
The cutting chain advances through the interior of the Golden Ray wreck on Friday during the final cutting operation. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jeremy Wilbanks.
The cutting chain advances along the topside of the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck on Monday during final cutting operations. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
A technician surveys a travelling block that connects to the cutting chain during a routine inspection of the cutting apparatus on Monday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Recycling personnel fill a container barge with vehicles from Section Three at a response facility south of Mayors Point Terminal on Monday. The vehicles will be transloaded into container trucks and hauled to a local auto recycling facility. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The 150-yard safety zone around the EPB is increased to 200 yards for any non-response vessel not transiting inside the shipping channel. The Unified Command (UC) advises mariners to please steer clear of the perimeter to ensure the safety of our responders and the public. Any unauthorized usage of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) around the wreck site and near response facilities is discouraged due to safety. UAVs are distractions that can lead to near misses, mishaps and injuries. Responders will report any sightings of drones and drone operators to local authorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE
A team consisting of members from Gallagher Marine Systems, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division and the U.S. Coast Guard scans the shoreline for any debris or oil near Cedar Street public beach access during a series of routine shoreline assessments on Tuesday. Response assessment teams regularly survey over 100 miles of shoreline on St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and throughout the sound each week. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
A shoreline assessment team member recovers small plastic debris during a survey near Cedar Street public beach access on Tuesday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Survey teams continue to recover debris along shorelines and from marsh areas in the vicinity of the wreck site. All debris is sorted, catalogued and disposed of according to the response debris plan. If you encounter what you believe is debris from the Golden Ray wreck, please do not handle the debris. Call the Debris Reporting Hotline at (912) 944-5620. Responders evaluate each report, survey the vicinity and recover any shipwreck debris in addition to their daily surveys of the water and the shoreline.
Shoreline assessment teams continue to survey beaches and shorelines for any oil impacts. If you encounter residual oil on the shoreline or in the water, please call the National Response Center hotline at (800) 424-8802.
Wildlife assessment teams continue to survey marsh areas and beaches throughout St. Simons Sound for any potential wildlife impacts. If you encounter any oiled wildlife, do not attempt to capture it and report any sightings of oiled wildlife by calling (800) 261-0980.
Beaches remain open to the public and the Department of Health urges beach-goers to remain vigilant. For current beach and fishing safety information, please visit the Georgia Coast Health District website at the Georgia Coast Health District website.
On-water response teams maintain a 24-hour watch around the Golden Ray and they deploy pre-staged equipment and personnel to mitigate any oil discharges, sheens and debris observed. To learn more about the response on-water oil recovery program, watch this video Subject Matter Expert Overview – On-Water Oil Recovery Operations
Safety personnel continue to measure air quality in the community using stationary and mobile air monitoring equipment. Community air quality analysis and water sample analysis continues to confirm no exceedances of air and water quality standards. To learn more about the Air and Water quality monitoring program, watch this video Subject Matter Expert Overview – Air and Water Quality Monitoring
The Unified Command (UC) developed a multi-layer approach for observing, surveying, documenting and mitigating any releases of oil or debris during cutting and lifting operations. Recovery personnel are on-station at the Environmental Protection Barrier, at the shoreline and on the water around the Golden Ray shipwreck. Responders are maintaining protective boom at sensitive locations around St. Simons Sound.
The St. Simons Sound Incident Unified Command is the official source of information for the Golden Ray wreck removal and response operations.
For more updates, please subscribe for email alerts at https://www.stsimonssoundincidentresponse.com/subscribe
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