U.S. Coast Guard officials have found that wood rot and insufficient inspections likely contributed to the breaking of a mast on the historic Maine schooner Grace Bailey in 2023, which killed a Rockland physician who was on board, according to a newly released report from the federal agency.
Among the problems were that the construction of the mast did not properly protect it from water damage, and the inspections by the Coast Guard and the ship’s owners had been insufficient. The Coast Guard had primarily done visual inspections of the mast, rather than using alternative methods such as lift cranes that allow for closer viewing and are recommended under some Coast Guard protocols, according to the report.
The investigators found that the mast, made from Douglas fir, had most of its outer layer — called sapwood — removed when it was being made, but that a layer of pressure-treated sapwood could have prevented the water damage that caused fungal decay and rotting that compromised the mast over time. They also said that the material used to treat the mast — called slush — was not enough to prevent long-term water damage given the sapwood had been removed.
In addition, the Coast Guard noted that its personnel had not received adequate maintenance training, according to the report.
Investigators also found that medical attention was not delivered quickly enough after the collapse, contributing to the death of 40-year-old physician Emily Mecklenberg.
The authors of the report did not recommend any sanctions for Coast Guard workers, mariners or other people associated with the case. They did make nine recommendations for how the agency can work to prevent further mast collapses, including working with sailing groups and marine surveyors to better identify and record cases of fungal decay in wooden masts.
Built in 1882, the Grace Bailey was off the Rockland Breakwater on Oct. 9, 2023 when the top of one of its two masts broke off and fell, injuring at least five passengers and killing Mecklenberg.
The ship is partly owned by the TV actor Marc Evan Jackson. Its website shows that it has resumed taking on passengers, with trips planned throughout this current summer.
In the years shortly before the 2023 demasting — under a different captain and ownership — the Grace Bailey had been involved in other reportable maritime incidents, including a collision that damaged the part of the ship which supports the masts.
In a statement provided by a spokesperson, the current owners said that they continue “to hold Emily closely in our hearts and minds and reflect on that tragic day.” They said they had given the schooner “a thorough overhaul” since the 2023 incident and that it had passed “a regular safety inspection by the Coast Guard.”
“The Grace Bailey is back sailing, allowing our passengers to enjoy the beauty of Maine’s coastline,” the owners said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of people injured when the mast broke.
