Golden Ray Rescue: Three of Four Crew Members Extracted from Ship, Rescue of Fourth Continues

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Update 1 (1615 EDT): Three of the four crew members have been extracted from the MV Golden Ray through a hole drilled in the side of the ship, the Coast Guard said in a 3:30 p.m. update on the rescue operations. The operation to extract the fourth crew member is still underway. 

The Coast Guard said the remaining crew member is stuck behind glass in a control room. It was unclear how long it would take for his rescue, but hopes are high that the rescue will ultimately be successful. 

The three rescued crew members are reported to be in relatively good condition and are being treated at a local hospital.

.@USCG and salvage response teams are currently formulating a safe way to extract the final #GoldenRay crew member near #StSimonsSound. #HappeningNow #BREAKING #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/4NffOpQqKn

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 9, 2019

Earlier: The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that the four missing crew members from the overturned MV Ocean Ray have been located alive and a plan is underway for their rescue. 

The Coast Guard made the announcement on Twitter on Monday morning more than 24 hours after the car carrier first ran into trouble as it was departing the Port of Brunswick in Georgia. 

With the crew members confirmed alive, a salvage team will dry to drill a hole into the hull of the ship to deliver supplies and ultimately rescue them.  

“All 4 #GoldenRay crew members are confirmed alive. Conditions unknown. Response crews will drill a hole to deliver supplies,” the Coast Guard tweeted.

#BreakingNews All 4 #GoldenRay crew members are confirmed alive. Conditions unknown. Response crews will drill a hole to deliver supplies. #HappeningNow

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 9, 2019

As of now, the U.S. Coast Guard and salvage team are working to develop an extraction plan to safely rescue the crew. “This is a slow, but safe process,” the Coast Guard wrote on Twitter.

The crew members are believed to be in the engine room of the vessel, according to reports. 

Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders were notified at approximately 2 a.m., Sunday, by the Glynn County 911 dispatch that the MV Golden Ray had capsized in the St. Simons Sound, at entrance to the Port of Brunswick, with a pilot and 23 crew members aboard.

A Coast Guard helicopter aircrews and other agencies helped rescue 20 people, comprising 6 South Koreans, 13 from the Philippines, and the American ship pilot.

The vessel was initially reported as disabled, listing heavily, and had a fire on board.

#BreakingNews Salvage crews have have made contact with crew members in the #GoldenRay. Conditions unknown. Extraction being planned. #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/wPdKfgqBdN

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 9, 2019

The Marshall Islands-flagged Golden Ray is operated by South Korean logistics company Hyundai Glovis and has capacity to carry 6,933 vehicles. Reports says the ship’s cargo consisted of about 4,000 cars bound for the Middle East. The next port of call was Baltimore, according to AIS data.