THE
car carrier Golden Ray that ran aground and capsized in St
Simons Sound while it was departing from the Georgia port of Brunswick on
September 8 will be cut in place and removed, after maritime experts determined
that it is not possible to safely right and refloat the vessel in a fully
intact condition.
A statement from Unified Command, set up by the US Coast
Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Gallagher Marine Systems,
said it "is developing plans to remove all of the M/V Golden Ray's hull,
components and cargo by disassembling the vessel in place.
"This remains a complex situation but additional
information about the removal plan and the expected timeline will be shared
with the public as and when available."
As of October 12, it said lightering of the forward fuel
oil tanks on the ship had been completed and 225,000 gallons of fuel have been
removed. Efforts are still underway to remove the remaining fuel and lubricant
tanks. It is estimated that the ship was carrying 300,000 gallons of fuel when
it overturned, reported New York's FreightWaves.
Pollution mitigation and response efforts are ongoing.
Water is being monitored at 22 sites under a long-term plan to ensure the
safety of the public.
Responders to the Golden Ray accident have applied
sphagnum moss-based sorbent to marsh grass. The moss binds to the oil, prevents
it from spreading and allows for its natural degradation.
Twenty-four crew members were rescued from the ship after
it ran aground. Twenty were pulled off the ship within 10 hours, but a further
four crewmen were trapped and finally removed after a day and a half when
rescuers were able to cut a hole in the bottom of the ship to free them.
The Golden Ray is operated by the South Korean shipping
and logistics company Hyundai Glovis.
Source : HKSG.
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