BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Responders continue cutting operations to separate Section Seven from the Golden Ray wreck and released a rehabilitated Brown Pelican on Monday.
REMOVAL UPDATE
Responders aboard the VB-10000 continue cutting operations to separate Section Seven from the remaining Golden Ray Wreck. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The cutting chain advances through the hull-side of the Golden Ray wreck. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The cutting chain progresses along the topside of the Golden Ray wreck. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
A close-up image of the cut groove during an inspection on the topside of the Golden Ray wreck. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
A responder works on a pulley block in the cutting apparatus during a routine inspection. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Responders deploy protective boom around the Barge SJ500 which will temporarily stow vehicles from weight-shedding operations prior to off-loading at Mayors Point Terminal. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Responders on the Barge MB303 use a Fuchs MHL390 material handling machine equipped with a multi-tine grapple to remove vehicles from Section Two during weight-shedding operations. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Divers continue to lengthen pre-cut notches along cutlines for Section Two and Section Three to increase cutting efficiency during subsequent cutting operations. Responders continue to remove vehicles from Section Two onto a containment barge during Weight-Shedding operations. Once offloaded from the barge, the vehicles will be taken to a nearby certified auto recycler for final disposal.
The 150-yard safety zone around the EPB is increased to 200 yards for recreational vessels. The UC advises mariners to please steer clear of the perimeter. Any unauthorized usage of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) around the wreck site is prohibited. Responders will report any sightings of drones and drone operators to local authorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE
Representatives from Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research and the St. Simons Sound Incident response release a Brown Pelican near Clam Creek at Jekyll Island on Monday. St. Simons Sound Incident response video.
Experts with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research decontaminate the Brown Pelican after conducting a full medical examination. Once the decontamination process is complete, the bird follows a treatment plan to restore its waterproofing prior to a release. Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research photo.
Responders inspect the west bank of Jekyll Island along the East River during routine shoreline assessment operations. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Responders recover oiled debris with no further treatment necessary on Jekyll Island during a routine shoreline assessment. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Responders recover a piece of large debris during routine shoreline assessments of Jekyll Island. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Representatives with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research (TSBRR) released a Brown Pelican on Monday near Clam Creek at Jekyll Island, Ga. Responders rescued the lightly-oiled bird last week from a Current Buster and transferred it to TSBRR experts on-scene at the response for rehabilitation.
"An immense amount of time and resources goes into caring for any oiled animal. Releasing a now clean and healthy individual back to its natural environment is always the most rewarding part of a wildlife response," said Michelle Knapp, TSBRR Oil Programs Manager.
Responders continue to conduct regular shoreline assessments to find and remove any debris or other environmental impacts. 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. If you encounter residual oil on the shoreline or in the water, please call the National Response Center hotline at (800) 424-8802.
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 (EPB), 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 motor vessel Golden Ray response operations.
For more updates, please subscribe for email alerts at https://www.stsimonssoundincidentresponse.com/
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