Capsized Golden Ray Leaking Oil in St. Simons Sound

Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

Sporadic discharges that have been observed coming from the grounded car carrier Golden Ray in St. Simons Sound, Georgia, as authorities continue to refine the salvage plan for the vessel, the Unified Command said in a statement on Monday.

Shoreline impacts from the discharges have been observed near Quarantine Island, Lanier Island, Bird Island, and the confluence of the Back, Mackay, and Frederica Rivers, with varying degrees of oil and sheen in the marshes, according to the Unified Command.

The discharges come as crews continue to target and mitigate shoreline pollution and refine the plan for removing pollutants from the grounded ship.

Currently, there are approximately 208 responders attached to the Unified Command and nearly 40 vessels engaged in the response, the Unified Command said in it latest update.  Over 5,500 feet of oil-absorbent boom has been deployed, and 18,400 feet of boom is strategically staged for use as needed.

The update comes more than two weeks since the Golden Ray, loaded with some 4,200 vehicles, capsized and became grounded in St. Simons Sound, Georgia as the ship was departing the Port of Brunswick with 23 crew members and a pilot on September 8.

All 24 people on board were subsequently rescued, including four crew members who spent more than a day trapped inside the vessel.

Commercial traffic in the Port of Brunswick continues to move on a case by case basis.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Golden Ray is operated by South Korean logistics company Hyundai Glovis and has capacity to carry 6,933 vehicles. The next port of call was Baltimore, according to AIS data.

The Unified Command consists U.S. Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Gallagher Marine Systems.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up