Date: 10.1.19
Contact: Joint Information Center (912) 944-7122
Responders with the unified command reposition boom around the motor vessel Golden Ray Oct. 1, St. Simons Sound, Brunswick, Georgia. The barrier boom is maintained daily due to strong currents in the sound and skimming teams are conducting surface clean-up to recover oil product.
St. Simons Sound Incident Unified Command continues its response to the motor vessel Golden Ray. Currently, salvage workers continue to lighter the vessel and have removed over 106,101 gallons of fuel as of Tuesday. Skimming vessels are continuing to recover oil from the water while survey teams continue to monitor shoreline impacts. 14,700 feet of containment boom has been deployed to protect sensitive areas.
“Thank you for your patience during this response, our boom operations are designed to protect the marine environment, protect marinas and other assets,” said Commander Witt. “We are dedicated to ensuring the safety of responders, the public and marine environment as well as maintaining commerce in the area.”
Impacts of pollutants are being investigated and monitored. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 to report any pollution.
Specialists continue to actively monitor air and water quality around the vessel, Jekyll Island, and St. Simons Island. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website or call (844) 863-0325 for public health information and advisories.
The UC is working with local stakeholder groups to track and evaluate reported sightings of oil. Members of the public should not touch oil or attempt to rescue oiled birds or wildlife. They should instead report any sightings of oil to (800) 424-8802 and report any oiled wildlife to (800) 261-0980.
A claims number has been established for those affected by the incident (888) 850-8486.