BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Wreck removal personnel completed transloading Section Six to the Barge Julie B and began preparations to remove the final section of the Golden Ray wreck on Thursday.
REMOVAL UPDATE
Wreck removal personnel transloaded Section Six of the Golden Ray wreck from a dry-dock barge to the Barge Julie B and transited the barge to Mayor’s Point Terminal for further sea fastening on Thursday. Once secured and inspected for an ocean transit, the Julie B will depart the Port of Brunswick with two wreck sections enroute to a recycling facility in Louisiana.
Preparations to remove Section Four, the final section of the wreck began on Thursday. Prior to removing Section Four, additional weight-shedding may be required. Once lifted, the salvage master and the response engineering team will complete the fabrication of a cradle system that allows for the secure loading and transport of the section to a local response facility for partial dismantling.
Wreck removal personnel and tug crews transload Section Six of the Golden Ray wreck to the Barge Julie B. St. Simons Sound Incident response video.
Loaded with Sections Three and Six of the Golden Ray wreck, the Barge Julie B continues sea fastening on Friday at Mayor’s Point Terminal in preparation to transit the sections to Louisiana. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The VB-10000 shifts over Section Four, the remainder of the Golden Ray wreck on Friday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The 150-yard safety zone around the EPB is increased to 200 yards for any non-response vessel transiting outside 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 shoreline assessment team surveys the beach on the north end of Jekyll Island on Thursday. 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 survey over 100 miles of shoreline and marsh areas weekly for any oil impacts. If you encounter residual oil on the shoreline or in the water, 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. Oiled wildlife sightings have been minimal over the past month. If you encounter any oiled wildlife, do not attempt to capture it and report the sighting 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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