Glynn County sues for damages from Golden Ray shipwreck in 2019

GLYNN COUNTY, Fla. —

It’s been five months since the last piece of the wrecked Golden Ray cargo ship was removed from the St. Simons Sound in Glynn County.

The area has been home to Andy Jones his whole life. “It’s a beautiful day here in Coastal Georgia,” he said. Jones had been documenting the disaster since the vessel capsized on September 8, 2019.

This week, Glynn County filed a lawsuit suing for damages brought on by the shipwreck.

RELATED: Last chunk of Golden Ray Cargo ship removed from St. Simons Sound

“It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out,” Jones said.

The county is going after GL NV24 Shipping, which owned the Golden Ray, Hyundai Glovis and several other companies involved with the operation. The lawsuit accuses the defendant of negligence, saying the vessel was loaded with too many vehicles up high, making it top-heavy and at risk of capsizing.

Action News Jax showed you numerous oil spills and fires last year as crews cut the vessel into sections to haul off. The lawsuit claims the defendants are responsible for what it has cost the county to remove oil and wreckage from the environment.

RELATED: NTSB releases findings into federal investigation of Golden Ray

Jones says the impacts are far from over. “Yesterday, I got a photo from a charter fisherman...He sent a picture of a shark that he caught with what appears to be oil on that fish... We don’t see it, but the remains [of the wreck] are still there. That’s evident from seeing a bumper wash up on the beach a week and a half ago.”

Jones worries about the long-term effects the shipwreck is having on his home. “It’s not over,” Jones said.

Action News Jax reached out to Hyundai late Wednesday afternoon. We’ll update this story online if we get a response.

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