One dead, three injured in demasting mishap on schooner near Rockland Harbor, Maine

One passenger is confirmed dead while three others suffered less severe injuries on a schooner after its mast broke and fell while off the coast of Maine on Monday, October 9.

The US Coast Guard First District said personnel aboard the schooner Grace Bailey contacted the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command centre at around 10:00 local time on Monday requesting assistance after the vessel’s mast reportedly broke and fell onto the deck causing head and back injuries to four people.

Coast Guard watchstanders then despatched a Coast Guard Station Rockland Motor Lifeboat (MLB) crew to assist.

The MLB crew arrived on scene and transferred a female passenger from the schooner to Rockland Harbor where she was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel. Tragically, this individual was later pronounced deceased.

The MLB crew returned to Grace Bailey with two EMS personnel to retrieve the three remaining injured people.

The three injured occupants were transferred to EMS at Rockland Harbor and taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

A team from a commercial salvage company responded and towed Grace Bailey to Rockport Harbor.

The coast guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

Grace Bailey was originally built as a lumber-carrying ship in 1882. The schooner changed ownership and underwent extensive modifications numerous times and is now being operated as a coastal cruise and private charter vessel.