ON MARCH 5, 2023 AT APPROXIMATLEY 1730 HRS, VESSEL 1 OPERATED BY OPERATOR STRUCK THE NEUSE RIVER BRIDGE.  OPERATOR MISJUDGED THE HEIGHT OF THE BRIDGE.  VESSEL 1 STRUCK THE MAST AGAINST THE BRIDGE.  VESSEL 1 THEN TURNED TO THE PORT BEING PUSHED BY THE WIND.  VESSEL 1 THEN HAD ITS MAST BREAK.  VESSEL 1 CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CAME TO REST AGAINST THE BRIDGE PILLINGS CAUSING VESSEL 1 TO LIST TO THE PORT.  OPERATOR COULD NOT LOWER THE SAIL DUE TO THE MAIN MAST BREAKING AT THE TOP.  FIRST RESPONDERS GOT ALL SOULS OFF VESSEL 1 AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO SHORE.  VESSEL 1 WAS RECOVERED BY A TOWING COMPANY AND PUT BACK AT THE DOCK.  NO ONE WAS INJURED AS A RESULT.

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NEUSE RIVER
NEW BERN                      