The US Coast Guard thinks the environmental impact from the ship is limited so far, Cdr. Norm Witt, reports CNN.
No major release
“We don’t have any indications at this point that we have a major release” from the 656-foot Golden Ray that capsized in St. Simons Sound.
Everyone is safe after rescuers saved the final four men trapped on the ship on Monday.
Spill management crews working
He said spill management crews have used booms as part of a pollution mitigation effort and are trying to retrieve fuel and oil that has come from the ship that was set to haul 4,200 vehicles to Baltimore.
He added they were also trying to seal fuel vents, where fuel can escape as the ship is on its side.
Pollution cannot be denied
“I can’t tell you that there won’t be any pollution. There is pollution as of right now. It’s limited in scope,” he said.
Several environmental groups in the area said it was too early to tell what impact the spill has had.
Monday, Chris Graff, director of response services for a spill management company, said the oil which officials described as a light sheen was possibly from hydraulic fuel from the engine.
.@USCG crews have shifted focus to environmental protection and working w/salvage crews to remove the #GoldenRay. Currently no leaks from the vessel, only a light residual sheen. Protective measures were put in to place after the initial rescue. #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/p7rHvWGXeb
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 10, 2019
Turtle nesting area
“We know that there’s manatees in the area, there’s turtle nesting areas in the area, there’s some bird activity in the area. All of these are concerns for us,” said Graff, of Gallagher Marine Systems.
The Coastal Resources Division of DNR will conduct water quality sampling to ensure the safety of shellfish harvesting beds and swimming beaches.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division, a branch the DNR, has been notified of the capsizing and is monitoring the situation.
Salvage operations
Witt acknowledged it will be weeks, perhaps months, before the 71,000-ton Golden Ray is moved from the scene.
Plans for how to salvage the ship have not been finalized, he said.
Shipping channel opened?
Witt also said officials hope to reopen the shipping channel on Thursday, though it likely will be one-way traffic and only during limited hours. And the Thursday target is very aggressive, he said.
Advisory from The Coastal Health District
The Coastal Health District issued a swimming advisory for St. Simons and Jekyll Island beaches until more is known about the environmental impact of a cargo ship that capsized in the St. Simons Sound early Sunday morning, says an article published in News4GA.
The Coastal Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources will conduct water quality sampling to ensure the safety of shellfish harvesting beds and swimming off the beaches.
Efforts to mitigate pollution
“We also have pollution mitigation efforts in the works. We have established a unified command for (putting) mitigation strategies into effect. The unified command consists of U.S. Coast Guard, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Gallagher Marine Services representing the responsible party,” said Norm Witt, commander of the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Unit.
Witt said currently, they were mobilizing resources, activating their area contingency plan and taking all steps necessary to mitigate potential pollution.
In addition to the pollution, they are also considering the salvage piece. He added “we’ve implemented a unified command to effect salvage as quickly as possible.”
Roll-on, roll-off ship
The Golden Ray is a roll-on, roll-off ship used to transport vehicles. There were reportedly 4,200 vehicles aboard the ship when it capsized.
Fisherman and boaters are very concerned about the environmental impact from the overturned ship.
Concerns about tourism business
Calvin Collins, a tour guide who owns a private island not far from where the ship is lying on its side, is worried about any damage to the local oyster beds here could be a disaster.
“If those gets damaged, it’s possible they won’t hold the reef together,” Collins said. “What’s going to happen to the area? There’s a lot of oil and fuel, and a certain type of fuel called sea fuel, it’s thick and goes to the bottom. We’re all concerned here in the local tourism business.”
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