On the Maine coastline, earlier this week, the schooner Grace Bailey experienced a major accident. The ship's main mast broke, crushing the deck and causing one fatality and injuring three others on board, CBS News reported.
The accident transpired while the Grace Bailey was ending a four-day cruise. A nearby Coast Guard ship sped to the scene to aid the injured passengers, stated the vessel's owner, according to the Associated Press. Among the 33 passengers on board, one lost their life, while three others were taken to hospitals.
A part of Maine's windjammer fleet, the Grace Bailey operators are currently uncertain why the mast failed. The Coast Guard to has begun a full inspection in the incident.
Only a few days before the incident, the Grace Bailey had posted photos of passengers carving pumpkins onboard. Built in Long Island, New York, in 1882, the boat can hold up to 29 passengers and is 118 feet long (36 meters).
In light of the tragedy, Grace Bailey's captain, Sam Sikkema, expressed his sorrow. Assuring safety is their priority, reported ABC News. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander, Capt. Amy Florentino, extended her deepest condolences and best wishes to the family and the injured.
