After departing its berth and passing beneath the Sydney Lanier Bridge, the Golden Ray initiated a sequence of course alterations through the channel. While early turns produced expected minor heels, initiating a sharp 68 degree starboard turn at 11.6 knots caused centrifugal forces to overcome righting energy, resulting in an immediate 60 degree list to port.
The listing vessel grounded outside the main channel, prompting nearby harbor tugs to continuously push against the hull to prevent it from sliding into deep water. Emergency crews and the Coast Guard launched an extensive evacuation, eventually drilling directly through the steel hull the following day to safely rescue four trapped engineers.
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