The schooner Ernestina-Morrissey, the official tall ship of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, will not be traveling back to Cape Ann for her restoration. Instead, the work to return the 120-year-old, Essex-built ship to full sailing condition will be done in Maine.

Maritime Gloucester, which submitted one of the two bids to perform the restoration in conjunction with Piper Boatworks of New Hampshire, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it has been informed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation that it did not submit the winning bid.

“We have learned that Piper Boatworks/Maritime Gloucester was not selected by the state to restore the Ernestina-Morrissey,” Maritime Gloucester Executive Director Tom Balf said in a statement. “We are disappointed as we believe that Gloucester would have been the best place to conduct this work and honor the boat and its rich history.”

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