The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Port reopens with ship still on its side just off coast
Operations begin again; salvaging vessel likely to take several weeks.
The Brunswick port reopened Thursday, days after a cargo ship capsized just off the Georgia coast.
It was a major step toward returning to normal operations at the port, which had been closed since early Sunday. Ships will temporarily be evaluated on a caseby-case basis before traveling through the area, a spokesman for the recovery operation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
It was still not known how long it would take to remove the Golden Ray, which has been tipped on its side since early Sunday in the St. Simons shipping channel. Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement Thursday afternoon during the annual State of the Port meeting, thanking the Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Ports Authority and others for their efforts this week.
“Our ports are key drivers of our economy,” Kemp said. “They drive our economy because they touch every single part of our state, including rural Georgia.”
The Golden Ray, which is 656
feet long and weighs 71,000 tons, departed the Brunswick port bound for Baltimore about 1 a.m. Sunday. There was soon a fire on board, and around 2 a.m. emergency responders, including the Coast Guard, were notified that the ship had capsized.
Twenty people were quickly rescued, but four were unaccounted for and still aboard. Rescue teams tapped on the ship’s metal overnight and eventually heard taps back, indicating the four on board were still alive. The ship was hauling 4,200 vehicles.
It took several hours Monday, but all four crew members were extracted. All were in remarkably good condition despite being trapped in intense heat on the ship, the Coast Guard said.
In addition to investigating the cause of the incident, the focus has moved to removing the ship and debris it spilled, the Coast Guard said. Details on the cleanup process have not been publicly released.
The Coast Guard has said it could take several weeks to remove the ship from its current position. Currently there are 12 vessels and 179 responders assisting, and a long-term salvage plan for the vessel is being developed, according to Cmdr. Norm Witt of the Marine Safety Unit in Savannah.
“The development of a salvage plan will take time and is something we must get right the first time,” Witt said.
Officials are also monitoring environmental conditions and potential public health issues. Anyone planning to swim or fish on St. Simons or Jekyll islands is urged to use common sense and check the water for signs of oil, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. No impacts on air quality due to the incident have been detected, the Coast Guard said late Wednesday.