Coast Guard says periodic pollution will be found from cargo ship in St. Simons Sound

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — It has been more than two weeks since a cargo ship capsized in Glynn County, but the effects are continuing to impact the area.

Action News Jax told you on Saturday that oil and sheen were found in the marshes near the Golden Ray in St. Simons Sound.

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On Monday, the Altamaha Riverkeeper and other environmentalists were out collecting samples from the marshes.

“Lots of sheening on the water in multiple locations,” riverkeeper Sam Fletcher said. “The sheening that we're seeing, 10 miles out, resembles the sheening that we’re seeing at the oil locations in the marsh, so we think it’s probably traveled to good ways.”

Action News Jax reporter Meghan Moriarty was given a sample of the marsh, covered in what appears to be oil.

“We’re looking at about three different types of fuels so diesel, gasoline, both types of bunker fuel,” Fletcher said. “There’s also a little hydraulic fluid.”

Fletcher said they’re looking at a 10-mile radius. Previously, it was thought that were was minimal environmental damage from the capsized ship, but the U.S. Coast Guard agrees that it is changing.

“We have had pollution, and we will continue to see periodic pollution,” Cmdr. Norm Witt said.

Witt said right now they are not seeing any major discharge from fuel tanks, but this is still a serious situation.

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“The next steps I will be working on is actively pumping off the fuel tanks -- to again -- to try to reduce the risk of significant pollution,” Witt continued.

Fletcher said he wants samples from inside the boat to see if it matches what they have been finding in the marshes.

“We have asked the Coast Guard yesterday [Sunday] -- in a sit down conversation-- if we could have samples from the inside of the ship,” Fletcher said. “They are not sure if the responsible party will let us have it.”

Cox Media Group