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Crews continue to combat environmental challenges after cargo ship capsize in St. Simon Sound

The cargo ship capsized back in early September and salvage crews are facing challenges getting all pollutants off the ship.

Salvage workers with the St. Simons Sound Incident Unified Command are continuing their environmental response to the capsized Golden Ray that still sits in the St. Simon Sound.

The cargo ship capsized back in early September and salvage crews are facing challenges getting all pollutants off the ship. 

Workers have removed over 136,000 gallons of fuel as of Wednesday saying that the source of the oil discharge that occurred on Monday been located and secured.

RELATED: Public advisory for Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island changed to 'yellow' due to pollutants leaking from Golden Ray cargo ship

Skimming vessels are also continuing to recover oil from the water while response teams canvass the shoreline. Efforts include spraying sphagnum moss, a peat absorbent, to some of the freshly oiled marsh grass at the mouth, and along the banks, of Cedar Creek. 

Thre are currently 315 response personnel out in the field helping to mitigate and report on environmental impacts. 

“The Unified Command continues to prioritize environmental protection and pollutant recovery," says Jed Hewitt with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. "Yesterday, cleanup crews were deployed to Jekyll Island where they cleaned 1.5 miles of shoreline. Currently, we are also assessing impacted marsh in the sound and associated tributaries, and developing cleanup methods for those affected areas.”

RELATED: 'Highly complex and challenging response:' Officials give update on cargo ship removal efforts in St. Simons Sound

RELATED: U.S. Coast Guard confirms oil discharge from overturned Golden Ray cargo ship in St. Simons Sound

The Georgia Department of Health has issued an advisory alerting swimmers and recreational fishers to the potential presence of oil on the beaches of Jekyll Island. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website or call (844) 863-0325 for public health information and advisories. 

A claim number has been established for those affected by the incident (888) 850-8486.

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