BRUNSWICK, Ga. – When the Golden Ray cargo ship capsized in 2019 in St. Simons Sound, it began what would become the largest wreck removal in U.S. history.
On Monday, the Coast Guard honored the partner agencies who stepped in to help rescue the 23 crew members and then salvage the ship -- a process that took more than two years.
The Golden Ray vessel was leaving the Port of Brunswick on Sept. 8, 2019, when it tilted over in St. Simons Sound. A year later, hearings revealed the Coast Guard analysis found the ship overturned because of unstable loading.
Georgia state leaders and members of the Coast Guard presented public services awards Monday to the men and women who helped stabilize the ship and rescue the crew. Among them were the Brunswick Harbor Pilots, Moran Towing and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Rescue efforts started quickly for the 23 crew members -- four of whom became trapped in the vessel.
Capt. Jonathan Tennant described the horrible feeling when the ship rolled over underneath him while he was in charge of navigation -- and he did not understand why.
“There wasn’t time to be thinking about feelings. We were just acting and doing our job and helping coordinate finding out where crew members were,” Tennant said.
Dramatic videos captured the moments the final crew member was rescued after being trapped on board for more than 36 hours.
A @USCG Station Brunswick crew successfully transported the final #GoldenRay crewmember to @GlennCountyOES EMS crews for further medical care. #HappeningNow #BreakingNews #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/pGJg2cV4Cy
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 9, 2019
“She could have capsized in deep water and everyone could have perished. There wouldn’t have been a witness to call for help,” Tennant said. “I was just fortunate to be able to be a liaison for the Coast Guard.”
Tennant only left the ship after making sure his 19 crew members got to safety first, but he says he was just doing his job.
“It’s very uncomfortable to receive an honor, an award when I feel like I didn’t do anything that any other pilot in our group would have done,” Tennant said.
Tennant steered the ship out of the channel, coordinated tow boat assistance and helped speed up the process of getting the crew off the ship. It was an extremely dangerous and volatile situation with more than 4,000 cars on board, fires and a risk of the vessel sinking deeper into the water.
“I’ll call it a miracle. That ship landing where it did is quite fortunate,” said Capt. John Reed, commander of US Coast Guard Sector Charleston. “But to know that we have mariners in the industry who are willing to put their lives on the line.”
Now Tennant remembers the dramatic events every time he passes that spot.
“I pass the site where she capsized every day at work. I drive other ships by the site of the capsizing event,” Tennant said.
Environmental concerns grew as salvage plans started, and crews began removing fuel from the ship.
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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources determined the ship would be disassembled in place because it would not be safe to upright and refloat the vessel.
Rocks were placed next to the ship’s hull to stop erosion. A large net barrier was installed to catch surface pollutants.
The plan was to cut the ship into eight big chunks and remove them. A massive crane came in to lift the parts of the ship out of the water.
Crews finished cutting it down by September 2021, and the last piece of it was removed one month later.
MORE | Golden Ray ‘great feat’: Largest wreck removal in US history complete
The owners of the Golden Ray and the company that operated the ship are facing three federal lawsuits over the environmental damage done by the ship capsizing.
Glynn County filed the first one, over damage done to the coastline and the county’s economy, and seeks reimbursement for cleanup costs.
RELATED: Georgia environmental regulators propose $3M fine for Golden Ray shipping firm
The second suit was filed by a group of commercial fishermen, mainly shrimpers and crabbers, and the third was filed by businesses in the tourism industry in the St. Simons Island area.
The tourism businesses and fishermen make the same claims that the environmental damage from the capsizing and salvage has wrecked their livelihoods. All three lawsuits are still in the discovery phase.