My understanding was that The Pilgrim stopped sailing several years ago (not sure how long) because it was no longer seaworthy. According a much more detailed article in the Orange County Register, the OI said they had maintained their USCG certifications on the ship. (See: Ocean Institute’s tall ship Pilgrim sinks in Dana Point Harbor)
From the article:
Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol Lt. Chris Corn said institute officials had been battling a slow leak, but it was said to be under control. He spoke with Dan Goldbacher, director of Maritime and Facilities, who told him that the leak was managed with a pump.
“Something was different than it was yesterday,” Goldbacher said on Sunday.
Institute officials said they have been vigilant in the ship’s maintenance, and the Pilgrim underwent regular out-of-the water and underwater inspections. In 2016, it was hauled out for survey and repairs and in October 2019, the institute began fundraising to support the haul out and repairs scheduled to take place in January. The haul out was postponed until June due to overload at the shipyard, said Wendy Marshall, executive director of the institute. Meanwhile, the institute has maintained its certifications with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Now, Marshall said, the ship is likely beyond repair.
