Eyesore no more at RSM Classic: Golden Ray is now ‘largest wreck removal in U.S. history’

More than two years ago, a 656-foot long ship called the Golden Ray, carrying 4,200 automobiles in its cargo decks, capsized off the coast of Georgia in the St. Simons Sound.

The giant ship was visible up and down the coast and was an easy topic of conversation for everyone at the RSM Classic, which returns this week on the PGA Tour schedule.

In November 2019, just two months after the capsizing, the behemoth was the talk of the town.

“That is the second most popular question I’ve been asked after ‘Can I get a parking pass?’” Davis Love III, host of his hometown event that supports his Davis Love III Foundation, said that year.

It’s been estimated that three million man hours have gone into the salvage operation.

The work was complicated despite a series of setbacks including oil spills, a fire, hurricanes and a change in contractors, and there’s still work to be done in the sea but three weeks ago, a major milestone was passed with the removal of the eighth and final chunk of the ship, on its own weighing more than 4,000 tons.

“We have completed the largest wreck removal in U.S. history,” said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Efren Lopez.

The last two large sections must still be broken down further before they can be shipped to a Louisiana salvage yard and that may not happen till after the new year.

Incident Commander Chris Graff of Gallagher Marine Systems told reporters that crews recovered 8,000 pounds of ship-related debris from shores and marsh and 9,500 pounds of non-ship related trash.

Players warm up on the range as the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship is seen in the background during the first round of the RSM Classic on the Plantation course at Sea Island Golf Club on November 21, 2019 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board reported the combined losses totaled more than $204 million. The Georgia Recorder reports that a trade industry magazine estimated in September that losses for owners and insurers combined to exceed $842 million.

As far as the cause, federal investigations determined that the vehicles were loaded incorrectly and that caused the top-heavy ship started to list after seawater came in through an open door.