Salvors prepare for final Golden Ray lift

During transloading operations on 2 October, Julie B struck a pontoon on VB-10000 heavy lift vessel.

VB-10000 did not sustain damage, but marine safety inspectors and response engineers assessed a 30.5-cm long by 10-cm wide crack in the side shell plating of the port bow of Julie B. This crack, above the waterline, was repaired on 4 October.

Once section six of the wreck is transloaded, a drydock barge can be manoeuvred to the wreck site and prepared for the final section to be lifted from the seabed by VB-10000.

As with all the other sections, salvors will remove some of the vehicles and decks from this final section prior to the lift.

Tugs are heavily involved in these barge transportations and lifting operations. For example, Crosby Star, Caitlin and Kurt J Crosby assisted a drydock barge loaded with section five of the Golden Ray wreck to a local facility near Mayor’s Point Terminal.

This has been one of the longest and expensive salvage or wreck removal projects in recent years with costs estimated to have risen to more than US$1Bn.

Riviera Maritime Media will be hosting TUGTECHNOLOGY 2021 in London, UK during 25-26 October 2021 - use this link to access more information and register to attend or exhibit at the event