Date: 9.19.19 Contact: Joint Information Center (912) 944-7122
Salvage efforts on the Golden Ray continue to progress as teams begin skimming pollutants from the engine room to allow access to the main fuel tanks.
“Because transferring fuel in the marine environment brings an inherent risk of pollution, we match our pollution mitigation strategies with each phase of the salvage operation.” – Cmdr. Norm Witt, Federal On Scene Coordinator
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
Specialists are actively monitoring air quality around the vessel and the surrounding areas. No impacts on air quality have been detected to date. A water-quality monitoring plan is being finalized, and members of the public are encouraged to monitor the Department of Public Health website for advisories.
ENVIRONMENT
Response teams continue to canvas the shoreline and have identified minimal to no environmental impacts at this time. There are approximately 185 responders attached to the Unified Command and 37 vessels assisting in the response. Environmental inspection teams are continuously scanning the shoreline by air, boat, and foot, looking for evidence of oil. Over 5,300 feet of boom has been deployed surrounding Bird Island, and 18,400 feet of boom is strategically staged for use as needed.
ECONOMIC
Commercial traffic in the Port of Brunswick continues to move on a case by case basis. A claims number has been established for those who have been affected by the incident: (888) 850-8486.