The Marshall-Islands-flagged roll-on, roll-off vessel Golden Ray has been aground on its side outside the nation's second largest car carrier port since it capsized shortly after leaving the Port of Brunswick en route to Baltimore in September 2019. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
The ship’s pilot and 23 crew members were all recovered safely, including four crew members trapped inside the vessel for 35 hours before they could be rescued through a hole drilled into the hull.
The Golden Ray wreck remains stable and is monitored continuously by sensors and during hydrographic surveys around the EPB. An environmental unit conducts shoreline assessments throughout the week and pollution response teams continue to monitor the wreck site. No emergent environmental impacts have been observed.
Approximately 400 personnel and 50 on-water assets including tugs, barges and response vessels continue preparations to cut and lift the wreck.
The Korean-owned Golden Ray will need to be dismantled in place and removed in pieces because the vessel, in its current position and condition, is not able to support the stress exerted on the hull and keel during parbuckling operations. Salvors have installed 16 lifting lugs on the wreck to provide connection points for the VB-10,000 lifting operations.
The VB-10,000's two 255-foot tall gantries will use lengths of chain to cut the capsized RoRo vessel into eight pieces and lift them onto barges for eventual transportation to Louisiana for recycling.