All crew members rescued from overturned cargo ship

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — All crew members have been rescued from a cargo ship which overturned off the coast of Georgia early Sunday morning.

The rescues followed nearly 36 hours of work after the Golden Ray, a giant ship that carries automobiles, rolled onto its side early Sunday as it was leaving Brunswick, bound for Baltimore.

>> Read more trending news

Here are the latest updates: 

Update 6:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 9: The fourth and last crew member trapped inside a capsized cargo ship off the coast of Georgia has been rescued.

Coast Guard Lt. Lloyd Heflin told The Associated Press in a text message that the South Korean crew member was rescued just before 6 p.m. Monday.

He says the crew member appears to be in good medical condition but is being evaluated.

Update 4 p.m. EDT Sept. 9: Coast Guard officials say they have rescued three of four crew members from an overturned cargo ship, but they're still working on a plan to rescue a fourth crew member trapped on another deck.

Capt. John Reed says at least two of the South Korean men who were extracted from a hole drilled in the hull of Golden Ray were able to walk with assistance down to a waiting boat. All three are being examined by medical personnel.

Reed says the three men have seen the fourth person, who is trapped behind glass in the ship's engineering compartment. He says marine engineers are working on a plan to get him out.

Update 3 p.m. EDT Sept. 9: The U.S. Coast Guard says it has rescued two of four trapped crew members from an overturned cargo ship.

Lt. Lloyd Heflin tells The Associated Press in a text message that two men have been extracted and rescuers are working on extracting a third.

Heflin said the four South Koreans who were trapped aboard the Golden Ray are in the propeller shaft room near the stern of the ship and that rescuers cut into the hull there to pull them out.

Update 1 p.m. EDT Sept. 9: USCG officials say they have sent down supplies to four crew members who remain in the vessel. The condition of the crew is not known. The extraction process will be "slow, but safe," according to a tweet.

Update 11 a.m. EDT Sept. 9: The Associated Press reported that USCG officials say rescuers have confirmed that all four missing crew members are alive. The discovery was made when rescuers drilled into the ship's hull.

Crews are assessing and planning an extraction.

Update 10:15 a.m. EDT Sept. 9: A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter landed on the side of the ship around a.m. Monday, The Associated Press reported. The helicopter is part of continued rescue efforts for the four crew members who remain missing.

Petty Officer 3rd class Ryan Dickinson said rescuers reported noises coming from the ship earlier.

"They heard noises, but we can't confirm that it's signs of life," Dickinson told The Associated Press. "We can't confirm that without going in and looking, but they did hear sounds."

Update 8:44 a.m. EDT Sept. 9: Four crew members are still missing within the Golden Ray vehicle carrier, ActionNewsJax is reporting.

The Georgia Port Authority says the ship was trying to make a right turn when it flipped, and that 4,200 cars were on board at the time. Crews are headed back into the area Monday morning to attempt to rescue the four crew members.

Update 1:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 8: The United States Coast Guard  was able to rescue 20 crew members from a disabled cargo ship near St. Simons Island Sunday, but four people are still missing.

The ship, named the Golden Ray, flipped around 2 a.m., according to officials with the Georgia Ports Authority. The call initially indicated a ship had capsized.

The ship had 24 people aboard, including 23 crew members and a pilot from the Brunswick area.

Emergency workers are also battling a fire on the stranded vessel.

The Golden Ray is a vehicle carrier ship and was transporting approximately 4,200 vehicles at the time of the accident, Georgia Ports Authority officials reported.

Update 9:30 a.m. EDT Sept. 8: Officials said multiple agencies were on the scene where the ship named "Golden Ray" rolled on its side near St. Simons Island Sound. All traffic into the Port of Brunswick has been suspended.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said most of the ship's crew has been rescued, but four people are still unaccounted for.

Original story: A cargo vessel flipped on its side off Georgia's St. Simons Island, the U.S. Coast Guard said early Sunday.

Rescuers arrived at the scene and are evacuating all crew members from the ship, called the Golden Ray, the Coast Guard said.

Glynn County first responders are helping with the response where possible, but say the ultimate responsibility lies with the Coast Guard.

The response and investigation are still underway.

Cox Media Group