Actually, the "Golden Ray" should have headed to the port of Baltimore on Monday. Instead, she lies on the page in St. Simon's Sound. The freighter crashed overnight on Sunday (local time) off the coast of Georgia and capsized. The US Coast Guard said on Sunday that there were 24 crew members on board. 20 were saved, four were still missing.
The reason for the capsizing of the "Golden Ray" near the port of Brunswick is still unclear and will be investigated. Pictures of the scene of the accident showed a fire on board the nearly 200 meter long freighter. The "Golden Ray" drives under the flag of the Marshall Islands, on board apparently are cars.
Bobby Haven / The Brunswick News via AP
Smoke over the ship: Currently too dangerous for further rescue
According to John Reed of the US Coast Guard in Charleston, the rescue operation was interrupted because of the fire. "After flames and smoke were detected, our employees decided it was too risky to search for survivors inside the ship," he told US station NPR.
#HappeningNow @USCG and port partners are conducting a rescue operation for four crew members aboard a disabled cargo vessel in St Simons Sound, Brunswick, Georgia. More information here: https://t.co/R4QQoROXwM pic.twitter.com/uvaue64k82
- USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 8, 2019The action will continue if experts have declared the wreck to be stable. The emergency call had reached the Coast Guard around two o'clock in the morning on Sunday (local time). At four and five o'clock crew members could be rescued by helicopter, followed by the cancellation of the action.
The shipping traffic around the accident site was initially restricted. Other ships may not approach the Golden Ray for more than half a nautical mile. According to the local authorities, a threat to the environment is currently not expected from the capsized ship. Nevertheless, corresponding schedules have been put into effect.
