The Golden Ray is a 656-foot car carrier that capsized in St. Simons Sound between St.Simons Island and Jekyll Island, Georgia in September of 2019. The Hyundia owned ship was en route to Baltimore, Maryland after leaving the port of Brunswick with approximately 4300 vehicles onboard. At the time of the wreck there were 23 crew members onboard and one harbor pilot who was running the ship. 19 of the crew members and the pilot were rescued by the coast guard on the day of the wreck. The remaining four crew members were rescued after being trapped onboard for 36-hours.
Experts and locals in the maritime industry speculate that the ship could have capsized for a number of reasons: heavier vehicles were loaded on the upper decks of the ship resulting in a top heavy load unbalanced or that ballast water was unintentionally discharged due to a electronic malfunction.
The salvage and removal efforts of the ship started this fall after being delayed by hurricane season and coronavirus related issues. The ship is being cut into eight pieces that will be sent to Louisiana on barges for salvage. A chain powered by two large engines is being used to cut through the steel hull. The chain is being held up by a crane that was brought north from Louisiana where it is used to work on oil rigs. The first section (bow) of the ship was cut out and removed in late November and cutting on the second section (stern) was just completed yesterday.
This unprecedented shipwreck will be an unforgettable piece of maritime history due to the location of the wreck with its high visibility and the incredibly high cost (estimated $1 billion) of the salvage efforts. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to charter a captain out of St. Simons to get out to the wreck to document the work that is happening now. Vessels are permitted to get within 200 yards from the wreck.
The wreck, crane and other salvage equipment illuminated at dusk.
The stern of the 'Golden Ray'
Because of the location of the wreck, the salvage efforts are visible to tourists from shore on Jekyll and St. Simons Island. Local charter captains and tour outfits have had business from curious tourists who wanted to get a closer look at the wreck from the water.
The bow of 'Golden Ray' was cut and removed in November of 2020.
The cross section of the 'Golden Ray' showing the vehicles that were shifted around during the wreck in September of 2019.
Environmental crews monitoring water down tide of the wreck for oil and other fluids. The 4300 vehicles on the ship were full of lubricants and other fluids.
Environmental crews monitoring water down tide of the wreck for oil and other fluids. The 4300 vehicles on the ship were full of lubricants and other fluids.
