Repairs are being planned for Stramski’s Pier after a runaway sailboat broke free from its mooring during a February 23-25 blizzard and slammed into the structure, causing significant damage. Ultimately, repairs may cost around $300,000.
Harbormaster Mark Souza declined to release the name of the boat or its owner.
The incident occurred in Salem Harbor, when a Marblehead vessel drifted and struck the town-owned pier, a key access point for local boaters and sailing programs.
Souza said the town is now working to make the pier safe for public use in time for the busy summer season (including a Rec & Parks sailing program), while also planning for more extensive long-term repairs.
“I’m working right now with the town engineer, putting together a plan for temporary repairs for this summer to make it safe for the public. We will have to close the pier during heavier storms if we do get them. We don’t want someone out there in a heavy storm with the structural damage that’s been done,” Souza said.
The town is aiming to complete temporary repairs in-house to reduce costs. While an outside contractor estimated the short-term work at about $36,000, Souza said his team can likely handle it.
However, the town will still need a structural engineer to review and sign off on the temporary fixes. That cost will likely be about $1,500 Souza said.
Despite the February damage, Souza said the goal is to have the pier ready for public use — including boaters and youth sailing programs — by late spring.
Souza has received an estimate that the longer-term repairs could cost $250,000-$310,000. The Harbor and Waters Board said at its April 13 meeting that it would likely add that to its fiscal 2027 budget request. Because Harbor and Waters is funded through an enterprise fund, the cost will not impact taxpayers.
Meanwhile, the town is also exploring its legal and financial options related to the damage. According to Souza, the boat owner does not have insurance, and the town’s policy does not cover the incident.
“We notified him (the boat owner) with the damage costs… We have to wait 30 days for a response to the damage, then we go talk to town counsel and see what our options are there,” he said.
In response to the incident, Souza said he is researching potential changes to local mooring regulations, including requiring insurance for boats during the winter months.
