Logistics

Golden Ray Ship's Spelling Error Continued to Exact a Heavy Price

Golden Ray Ship's Spelling Error Continued to Exact a Heavy Price

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Golden Ray Ship's Spelling Error Continued to Exact a Heavy Price

The Golden Ray, a vehicle carrier ship, capsized and sank due to a spelling error that occurred during its final voyage. The vessel, carrying 7,400 automobiles, caused considerable disappointment for customers awaiting brand-new vehicles. The Golden Ray, engaged in transoceanic transport operations, departed on its final voyage on August 19, 2019, loading luxury vehicles from ports including Veracruz, Altamira, and Freeport. The ship was then headed toward Jacksonville and Brunswick, with a planned route continuing through Baltimore, Wilmington, Beirut, Jeddah, Sohar, Jebel Ali, Dammam, and Kuwait. However, on September 6, one day before leaving Jacksonville, the ship unexpectedly capsized while approaching Brunswick on September 8, and much of the vessel quickly became submerged.


The capsized Golden Ray experienced two fires, and the root cause was determined to be incorrectly recorded numbers. The spelling error that caused the ship's capsizing led to the input of incorrect data into the stability system, causing the vessel to lose control and quickly begin tilting to its side. The 23-member crew faced grave danger during this unfortunate incident. Captain Jonathan Tennant and Chief Engineer Junyong Kim stated at the time that the ship was operating normally and there were no unusual circumstances. However, investigations revealed that two watertight doors on the vessel had been left open, leading to water ingress.


After capsizing, the ship began to burn; however, no collision or significant hull damage was found. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) response boats quickly reached the vessel, rescuing all 23 crew members and an American captain alive. The rescue operations proved challenging due to fire, toxic smoke, and high temperatures. As the fire burned itself out, the rescue team successfully saved the remaining four crew members.


The capsizing of the Golden Ray caused millions of dollars in damage. The brand-new vehicles inside the ship were completely destroyed, representing a significant economic loss for the ship's owner companies and customers. Following the incident, the operation to remove the ship from the ocean took two years and was completed on September 5, 2021.


According to Milliyet's reporting, the Golden Ray was 200 meters long and weighed 71 tons. At the moment of capsizing, the ship tilted to its side at a 60-degree angle within one minute. As it turned to the right, the rapidly listing ship came to rest at a 90-degree angle. The spelling error caused incorrect data to be entered into the ship's stability system, causing the vessel to lose control. At the beginning of the voyage, the crew believed everything was in order and failed to detect this error. The Golden Ray proceeded without issue for days before capsizing on September 8, 2019.


This incident ranks among the largest maritime disasters since the Costa Concordia catastrophe in 2012. While 32 people lost their lives in the Costa Concordia disaster, all crew members in the Golden Ray incident survived. However, this unfortunate event once again highlighted how severely spelling errors in maritime shipping can lead to catastrophic consequences.


Key Points:
  • The Golden Ray had a cargo capacity of 7,400 vehicles.

  • A spelling error was identified as the cause of capsizing.

  • The ship departed on its final voyage on August 19, 2019.

  • The vessel experienced two fires during capsizing.

  • All 23 crew members were rescued alive.

  • The spelling error on the ship led to incorrect data being entered into the stability system.

  • The incident is recorded as one of the largest maritime disasters following the 2012 Costa Concordia catastrophe.

  • The operation to remove the Golden Ray from the ocean took two years and was completed on September 5, 2021.


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News Link: https://www.haber7.com/dunya/haber/3440977-yazim-yanlisi-geminin-sonu-oldu-7-bin-400-arac-ile-batti


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