Wood rot caused fatal ship’s mast accident: Report

An accident on a ship in Harlingen in which three Germans were killed by a falling mast was caused by wood rot in the mast, according to an investigation by the German version of the Safety Board, the Leeuwarder Courant reports. According to the investigation, the mast broke in a spot where repairs were previously done. The repairs were not carried out properly, resulting in water getting into the mast. That led to wood rot. Which in turn led to the mast breaking. The Dutch Safety Board is doing the official investigation, according to NU.nl. The results are only expected next year. The Dutch Board can't say whether their findings are in line with what the Germans concluded.