Balls of oil wash up near capsized ship in St. Simons Sound

ST. SIMONS SOUND, Ga. — Balls of tar are washing up on the coastline near the capsized ship Golden Ray.

Fletcher Sams, with the Altamaha Riverkeeper, sent Action News Jax reporter Brittney Donovan video of the balls of oil that covered Jekyll Island’s shore.

He says they’ve also been found on St. Simons Island.

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“It’s an ongoing issue, and it could have long-lasting effects on the environment,” Sams said.

He shared photos of marsh grass covered in oil spanning at least a mile.

“We’re getting a lot of reports that they are bringing in animals, particularly birds, that have been oiled,” he said. “We’ve called in two animals, a pod of manatees.”

Crews are now working to remove the more than 300,000 gallons of oil on board the ship.

We asked Sams how much oil has been released into the water since the ship capsized Sept. 8.

He said he hasn’t been able to get a number and he’s working to find out what it means for marine life.

“We’ve documented oil 9 miles out, so if the oil is traveling 9 miles, the other fuels could be traveling further,” he said, referring to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. “In Deep Water Horizon that was crude oil. This is refined. It will have a different impact.”

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The Unified Command is asking anyone who sees oil in the water or on marine life to call them.

The spokesperson said Friday that they’ve gotten 24 reports of oil sightings since the ship capsized.

They confirmed 19 of the reports were related to the vessel.

To report oiled wildlife, call 800-261-0980.

To report pollution, 800-424-8802.

Cox Media Group