ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) -The United States Coast Guard and port partners are searching for four members of the crew of the Golden Ray after the cargo vessel tipped on its side in the Port of Brunswick.
20 of the 24 person crew on board have been rescued from the ship. The Coast Guard does not believe that the four missing crewmembers are submerged below water, but believe that they remain on board somewhere on the craft. The team consists of 23 crew members and one pilot. The vessel, which is 656 feet long and weighs 71,000 tons, is still listing heavily in the St. Simon’s Sound.
“It is a complex situation,” said Lt. Lloyd Heflin, the Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator out of sector Charleston. “So we’re working not just for the safety to be able to rescue the people on board, but also to be able to provide safety for our crews.”
The Golden Ray is leaning on its port side. It is unclear if the ship has leaked fuel at this time. An emergency spill response crew is stationed near the Sidney Lanier Bridge, ready to deploy when needed. The Coast Guard is in the process of deploying spill containment booms to contain any spills if necessary.
“In addition to the ongoing search and rescue operations we also have pollution mitigation efforts in the waters, currently I would say there is no active release of pollution however on the potential that there would be have established unified command to put mitgation strategies into effect,” said Commander of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unity in Savannah Norm Witt. “Currently we’re mobilizing resources, activating our area contingency plan and taking all steps necessary mitigate any potential pollution.”
The ship is described as a “roll-on, roll-off” ship, a craft usually used in the transportation of vehicles. There were 4,200 vehicles when the ship capsized.
The Coast Guard said during a press conference that the ship was attempting to turn when it lost control, tipping into the water.
The ship’s master and chief engineer are working with authorities and salvage teams to stabilize the Golden Ray and continue search efforts.
Port of Brunswick Captain of the Port has set up an emergency safety zone in St. Simons Sound. No craft is allowed within a half-mile of the Golden Ray until further notice.
Dozens of people made their way to Brunswick to look at the capsized cargo.
“We’ve never had a ship this size to capsize,” said Tom Parker of Brunswick.
“We came down from Rincon just to take a look at the boat being tipped over and I said how often do you hear that happening,” said Roger and Mary Bartley of Rincon, Ga.
Multiple agencies responded with rescue assets overnight. Coast Guard Sector Charleston were notified by Glynn County 911 of the emergency around 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning and directed the launch of multiple Coast Guard units to assist.
According to a maritime traffic map, the Golden Ray, a vehicle carrier, was leaving Brunswick and heading to Baltimore.
By Zach Loganand Bradley Mullis| September 8, 2019 at 6:32 AM CDT – Updated September 8 at 9:44 PM
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) -The United States Coast Guard and port partners are searching for four members of the crew of the Golden Ray after the cargo vessel tipped on its side in the Port of Brunswick.
20 of the 24 person crew on board have been rescued from the ship. The Coast Guard does not believe that the four missing crewmembers are submerged below water, but believe that they remain on board somewhere on the craft. The team consists of 23 crew members and one pilot. The vessel, which is 656 feet long and weighs 71,000 tons, is still listing heavily in the St. Simon’s Sound.
“It is a complex situation,” said Lt. Lloyd Heflin, the Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator out of sector Charleston. “So we’re working not just for the safety to be able to rescue the people on board, but also to be able to provide safety for our crews.”
#Update Evacuations of the Golden Ray’s crew continue. All vessel traffic in the Port of Brunswick is currently suspended unless approved by the @USCG Captain of the Port. #HappeningNow
The Golden Ray is leaning on its port side. It is unclear if the ship has leaked fuel at this time. An emergency spill response crew is stationed near the Sidney Lanier Bridge, ready to deploy when needed. The Coast Guard is in the process of deploying spill containment booms to contain any spills if necessary.
“In addition to the ongoing search and rescue operations we also have pollution mitigation efforts in the waters, currently I would say there is no active release of pollution however on the potential that there would be have established unified command to put mitgation strategies into effect,” said Commander of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unity in Savannah Norm Witt. “Currently we’re mobilizing resources, activating our area contingency plan and taking all steps necessary mitigate any potential pollution.”
The ship is described as a “roll-on, roll-off” ship, a craft usually used in the transportation of vehicles. There were 4,200 vehicles when the ship capsized.
The Coast Guard said during a press conference that the ship was attempting to turn when it lost control, tipping into the water.
The ship’s master and chief engineer are working with authorities and salvage teams to stabilize the Golden Ray and continue search efforts.
Port of Brunswick Captain of the Port has set up an emergency safety zone in St. Simons Sound. No craft is allowed within a half-mile of the Golden Ray until further notice.
Dozens of people made their way to Brunswick to look at the capsized cargo.
“We’ve never had a ship this size to capsize,” said Tom Parker of Brunswick.
“We came down from Rincon just to take a look at the boat being tipped over and I said how often do you hear that happening,” said Roger and Mary Bartley of Rincon, Ga.
Multiple agencies responded with rescue assets overnight. Coast Guard Sector Charleston were notified by Glynn County 911 of the emergency around 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning and directed the launch of multiple Coast Guard units to assist.
According to a maritime traffic map, the Golden Ray, a vehicle carrier, was leaving Brunswick and heading to Baltimore.
Beachgoers have been asked to not swim in the waters around St. Simon’s and Jekyll Island until more is known about the way the ship is affecting the water.
