BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Responders separated Section Seven from the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck on Saturday.
REMOVAL UPDATE
Cutting operations to separate Section Seven from the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck concluded on Saturday. Wreck removal personnel will prepare the section for lifting operations by removing vehicles, moveable decks and sediment similar to previous weight-shedding operations. Once lifted, Section Seven will be loaded onto a barge and secured for transit to a facility at Mayors Point Terminal to undergo sea-fastening for an ocean transit to Louisiana. Collected data from fixed monitors and hydrographic surveys confirms that the remaining wreck is stable.
To learn more about wreck removal operations, please watch this video Subject Matter Expert Overview – Wreck Removal Operations
The VB-10000 shifts slightly away from the remaining Golden Ray wreck after the cutting chain separated Section Seven on Saturday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
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 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
Response vessels standby outside the Environmental Protection Barrier (EPB) to recover any potential oil material or debris that escapes the barrier. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
On-water response teams continue to mitigate oil sheens and debris observed around the wreck site. Natural Resource Advisors continue to monitor areas around the wreck site and the Environmental Protection Barrier (EPB) for any wildlife activity or impacts. Survey teams continue to assess the shoreline to find and remove any debris or other environmental impacts. To learn more about the response debris program, watch this video Subject Matter Expert Overview – Debris Removal Operations
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/subscribe
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