The US Coast Guard (USCG) has resumed salvage operations for the Golden Ray, a Hyundai Glovis-owned car carrier that capsized in Georgia's St. Simons Sound.

The procedure was suspended Sunday as a result of unsafe conditions caused by thunderstorms and heavy riptides.

“We currently have approximately 160 local, state, and federal responders here to protect public health and the environment,” said John Maddox, state on-scene coordinator for Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Georgia state representative Buddy Carter on Monday visited the salvage incident command post to receive a full brief on current operations.

Response teams are searching multiple shorelines for environmental impacts and to ensure oil booms are optimally deployed.

They are also developing a comprehensive plan to remove pollutants from the vessel.

Commercial vessel traffic in the Port of Brunswick has resumed on a case by case basis.

The car carrier, from which 24 seafarers were rescued, may remain in the water for months while authorities carry out an investigation and salvage procedure.