BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Section Three of the Golden Ray wreck departed the wreck site and arrived at a response facility near Mayor’s Point Terminal on Monday. Responders continue to monitor the approach of Tropical Storm Elsa.
REMOVAL UPDATE
Three sections of the Golden Ray wreck remain after Section Three arrived at a response facility near Mayor’s Point Terminal on Monday. Welders secured the section to cradles on the barge after the VB-10000 safely lifted the section onto a dry-dock barge on Saturday. Wreck removal personnel will be conducting maintenance on the VB-10000 and the cutting apparatus prior to commencing cutting operations on Section Six.
Response managers are closely tracking the projected path of Tropical Storm Elsa and will take appropriate action in advance to secure personnel, vessels, equipment and facilities in accordance with the response Heavy Weather Plan.
Tugs assist a dry-dock barge during lifting and removal operations for Section Three of the Golden Ray wreck. St. Simons Sound Incident response video.
Utility tugs use seawater to flush sediment and reduce the weight of Section Three of the Golden Ray wreck during lifting operations on Saturday. Any reduction of weight ensures a safer overall lifting operation. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Tugs guide a dry-dock barge underneath Section Three of the Golden Ray wreck during lifting operations on Saturday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Wreck removal personnel prepare Section Three for a short transit to a response facility near Mayor’s Point Terminal in Brunswick, Ga., on Monday. Welders aboard the VB-10000 finished securing to custom-made cradles during sea-fastening operations on Sunday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Section Three of the Golden Ray wreck transits under the Sidney Lanier Bridge enroute to a response facility near Mayor’s Point Terminal in Brunswick, Ga., on Monday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
The 150-yard safety zone around the EPB is increased to 200 yards for recreational vessels. 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
An aerial observer surveys the Golden Ray wreck site and communicates critical information to nearby environmental response vessels during Section Three lifting operations on Saturday. St. Simons Sound Incident response photo.
Pollution response teams continue to observe very light oil sheens near the Golden Ray wreck site. Shoreline assessment teams continue to treat oiled marsh grasses and observe minimal amounts of oil on Jekyll Island St. Simons Island beaches with no additional treatment required after recovery. If you encounter residual oil on the shoreline or in the water, please call the National Response Center hotline at (800) 424-8802. For current beach and fishing safety information, please visit the Georgia Coast Health District website at the Georgia Coast Health District website.
Shoreline survey teams continue to recover debris related to the Golden Ray wreck removal from the shorelines of Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island. 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. To learn more about the response debris program, watch this video Subject Matter Expert Overview – Debris Removal Operations
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. Natural Resource Advisors continue to monitor areas around the wreck site and the Environmental Protection Barrier for any wildlife activity or impacts. 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 air monitoring 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 motor vessel Golden Ray response operations.
For more updates, please subscribe for email alerts at https://www.stsimonssoundincidentresponse.com/subscribe
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