11588
From: Captainj, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Golden Ray Salvage: VB10000 Set to Arrive Next Week
URL: Link
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The heavy lift vessel VB10000 will soon head to St. Simons Sound in Georgia where it will prepare for cutting and lifting operations in the salvage of the Golden Ray wreck. The vessel is expected to arrive as early as next Tuesday, weather permitting. The U.S.-flagged VB10000 has been being prepared for job at the Port of Fernandina, Florida. The vessel’s crew has been sequestered inside a “bubble” in order to mitigate their COVID-19 exposure ahead of the operation. “The arrival of the VB10,000 has been highly anticipated. It’s a very capable asset implementing the latest in heavy-lifting technology for marine environments,” said Cmdr. Efren Lopez, Federal On-Scene Coordinator. “The vessel is a critical component to our removal plan that ensures the safety of our responders and the public as we move forward and remove the Golden Ray.” The VB10000 will cut the wreck into eight sections inside an already established Environmental Protection Barrier and lift the sections onto a barge for transport to a recycling facility. A 150-yard safety zone around the EPB has been established and mariners are advised to steer clear of the perimeter. Also, authorities are telling the public that unauthorized use of drones is prohibited around the wrecksite. Responders will report any sightings of drones and drone operators to local authorities. The Golden Ray was carrying about 4,200 vehicles when it lost stability and grounded as it departed the Port of Brunswick more than a year ago in September 2019. All vehicles remain inside the ship’s cargo holds. The salvage operation, one of the largest marine salvages in U.S. history, has so far faced several hurdles, including the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the suspension of on-site work in July after several workers tested positive for the virus. More recently, an issue with the mooring system of VB10000 further delayed the operation by several weeks. The Unified Command overseeing the response has said previously that the cutting and lifting operation is expected to take eight weeks. |
11635
From: Captainj, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Golden Ray Wreck Removal Hits Hiccup Cutting Section Seven
URL: Link
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Crews working to cut up and remove the Golden Ray wreck from Georgia’s St. Simons Sound will shift their focus to another section after a chain failure while cutting the section they have been working on for a month. The St. Simons Sound Incident Response reports that a link in the cutting chain failed during cutting operations on Section Seven on Friday, the latest hiccup in the cutting of the section which houses the ship’s engine. As a result and to avoid further delay, crews will shift the VB-10000 to begin cutting on Section Two. The Barge JULIE B is expected to arrive in Brunswick, Ga. in approximately 10 days and will receive Section Two once the section is separated and lifted. With two sections already removed, crews began working on Section Seven on January 27, but work on the section was quickly put on maintenance hold to fix issues with the cutting apparatus. While the VB-10000 cuts and lifts Section Two, divers will survey Section Seven and install a system so that the cutting chain can be placed back into the cut groove. The incident response confirms that the wreck remains stable and responders plan to return to Section Seven after Section Two is removed. Crews also continue to observe and recover oil sheens and debris on the water around the wreck site “The Unified Command (UC) developed a multi-layer approach for observing, surveying, documenting and mitigating any releases of oil or debris during cutting and lifting operations. Recovery personnel are on- station at the Environmental Protection Barrier (EPB), at the shoreline and on the water around the Golden Ray shipwreck. Responders are maintaining protective boom at sensitive locations around St. Simons Sound.” The Golden Ray was carrying about 4,200 vehicles when it lost stability and grounded in St. Simons Sound as it departed the Port of Brunswick in September 2019. All vehicles remained inside the ship’s cargo holds upon commencement of the cutting and removal operation. The operation is being performed by the heavy lift vessel VB-10000, which has been modified to carry out the work. It involves making seven cuts through the Golden Ray’s hull, separating the wreck into eight large sections for lifting and removal to a recycling facility. The first cutting operation commenced in early November. Since then, crews have fully cut and removed two sections (Section Eight and Section One), one each from the bow and stern. |
Responses:
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11590
From: chaskuchar@stcharlesmo, [DNS_Address]
Subject: questions,
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did the golden ray sink? port of brunswick. florida??? what insurance company covered the loss? 50,000,000 just for the cars and that is probably less than the cost. didn't hear about this until now. chas |
11594
From: Captainj, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: questions,(NT)
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Responses:
[11595]
11595
From: chaskuchar@stcharlesmo, [DNS_Address]
Subject: thank you for a perfect answer.
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all my questions were answered in the wiki. i never think of going to wiki when i look for an answer. need to learn that. chas |
Responses:
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