Progress continued in the dismantling of the wreck of capsized car carrier Golden Ray from St Simons Sound, Brunswick, Georgia, USA.
On May 9th cutting operations were begun to separate Section Three from the remaining wreck. This marked the start of the fifth of seven total cuts.
At the opposite end of the wreck responders removed 53 vehicles and part of a moveable deck from Section Six during weight-shedding operations.
Sea-fastening operations have been completed on Section Seven of the wreck. After inspection by US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah, the section will depart the Mayors Point Terminal, dependent on a favourable weather window.
The Unified Command (UC) responders said that the risk of oil discharge was lower for the remaining cuts in the wreck removal process.
On-the-water response teams continue to clean up very light oil sheens and debris, and the command’s shoreline survey teams were still patrolling to find and remove any debris or fuel residue.
The salvors have three cuts, four section hoists and a seabed debris clean-up to complete before the wreck removal process can be considered over and done with. The work is expected to take at least several more months.