{"id":19178,"date":"2019-09-09T16:00:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T16:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/09\/coast-guard-drills-through-hull-4-ok-inside-cargo-ship\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:06:23","slug":"coast-guard-drills-through-hull-4-ok-inside-cargo-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/09\/09\/coast-guard-drills-through-hull-4-ok-inside-cargo-ship\/","title":{"rendered":"Coast Guard drills through hull: 4 \u2018OK\u2019 inside cargo ship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. \u2014 Coast Guard rescuers found four South Korean crew members trapped inside a massive cargo ship, by rappelling down the side and drilling a hole through the hull to contact them on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe early indication is they are on board and OK,\u201d said Lt. Lloyd Heflin, Coast Guard Sector Charleston\u2019s search and rescue mission coordinator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heflin said the rescue team is communicating with the trapped sailors through the hole they drilled, but getting them out remains quite challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The capsizing of the Golden Ray<\/a> in Georgia\u2019s St. Simons Sound<\/a> early Sunday caused fires and smoke, and while the flames are now apparently out, the huge ship is listing at roughly 90 degrees, with more than 4,000 vehicles inside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A South Korea foreign ministry statement said Monday that the crew members were alive and isolated inside an engine room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It said 10 South Koreans and 13 Filipinos had been on board, along with a U.S. harbor pilot, when the ship began tilting over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 656-foot (200-meter) vehicle carrier is now stuck in the shipping channel, closing the busy Port of Brunswick.<\/p>\n\n\n\t