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Golden Ray to be scrapped in place....

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Oscarvan, Oct 19, 2019.

  1. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    All oil pumped out. Oil tanks steam cleaned.. per update; ready for salvage.
    Also;
    To improve the stability of the wreck, Unified Command has begun the removal of the vessel’s propeller, propeller shaft and rudder, which weighs a total of approximately 130 tons. “Due to the vessel’s orientation on its side, these components are creating a load which the vessel was not designed to support. Imagine holding a milk jug with an outstretched arm compared to the same weight hanging at your side. Removing these components will help reduce the stresses on the hull” said Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Winston, Unified Command Salvage Branch director. “This operation will help sustain the integrity of the wreck while we prepare for its full removal.”

    Don't think it will make e-bay but probably these large parts heading back to China for use in a next ship build.
  2. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    If they can get the right cranes on location it's entirely feasible to cut it into sections and ship the pieces back to Korea for reassembly.
    It's just a question of dollars and cents.
  3. GhostriderIII

    GhostriderIII Senior Member

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    I'd rather see it unloaded before doing anything strategic - like cutting it up.
  4. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I'm from the area and have been concerned a while. Whole answers have never been released and all else vague.
    Recovering similar wrecks like this one have never worked as planned.
    Last I heard, all oil was out, turns out; still a bunch of heavy oil on board.
    I'm glad somebody had some insight and trying to at least bring questions to light.

    If you don't know where this is, Google Earth Brunswick GA. You can see how far inland these marshes wonder.
    Any oil comes off that wreck, it can travel thru these marshes from Jax to Savanah and more.
    The wreck is at the inlet to miles of marsh lines. Thru the ICW or offshore, oil will travel and quickly.
    I can imagine the Low Country to Charleston getting trashed.
    Already stressed, these marches are coming back to life after pollution run off from paper-pulp and chemical plants from Jax to Kings Bay years ago. These marshes, the critters and the people don't need another marsh hit.
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Updates.
    https://ssiresponse.com/

    I was wondering about the kids, training to hold a fire hose, standing on a high V power lead.

    Never witnessed anything move so freaking slow.
  7. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It does seem to be taking FOREVER. They're working in calm water, boat is 2/3 exposed, How hard could it be to start cutting sections and pulling pieces off? It seems like it's been sitting there a year already.
  8. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Could, perhaps, possibly, maybe, just be that the company doing it....well, um.....this is the first like this they've ever done. The company that was on site initially has done many.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    This is (supposed to be) a world class quality salvage company. I'm afraid it's the ships owners keeping all slow and cheap. Our local news out lets, serious SFBs, has not a clue what's to be happening or how to report it. They mimic the web site as big news.
    If you read the web site, the big news this year, the salvage crew donated mask and then suits to the C19 responders. Not a bad deal (bless and thank them) but there is a large salvage going on (& on & on & on)..
  10. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    F M
    Calm when it rolled over. Calm ever since...
    NTSB is going to rip some rear when they complete this report..
    This is why it's dragging to long.
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    There were bids on this job. Ultimately the insurer did not choose the low bidder but chose the second bidder because they gave apparently more guarantees against a cost overrun. The only two salvages ever done like this one, the taxpayers had to take care of the overages. The award was taken to court. The judge basically agreed what had happened wasn't appropriate but said the job was too far along to change back. The company doing it has done many salvages. However, they've never done one even approaching the size of this one.

    All my information comes from those involved in the industry, who do major salvage work, and who were on site in Brunswick during the early time after the incident, helping with the initial steps.

    Now, this doesn't mean the company handling it can't or won't do the job well. Just experience definitely plays into the lack of haste.

    As to dates quoted by the "unified command", they were clearly not reasonable and a pipe dream.
  12. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Well, it also doesn't help the motivation for speed when the scrap market has tanked.
  13. GhostriderIII

    GhostriderIII Senior Member

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    The shipbreakers we've dealt with in the last decade would have had it taken apart months ago.
  14. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Just out of the channel but slow in brunswick.
    Once the Tricolor and BalticAce got their act in gear, I thought they were cleaned up quickly. These were in the channels.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Now they are having a blood drive. How nice.
    Reads like the salvors (& owners?) are blowing everybody and taking their sweet time in removing the wreck.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Update
    Garbage clean up on the area streets and a deer rescued in the area.
  17. bluebyu

    bluebyu New Member

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  18. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Wreck update
    Removing the ramps from the hull.
  20. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    In Fernandina now.

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