Historic Schooners Sink in NYC Canal, Raising Concerns for Maritime Heritage
POLICY WIRE — New York City, USA — The wreckage of the Pilot and Victory Chimes, two historic schooners, now lies at the bottom of the Henry Street Basin, an inlet off New York City’s Gowanus Canal....
POLICY WIRE — New York City, USA — The wreckage of the Pilot and Victory Chimes, two historic schooners, now lies at the bottom of the Henry Street Basin, an inlet off New York City’s Gowanus Canal. These vessels, which have collectively served the nation in wartime, hosted notable figures like Jacques Cousteau, and even appeared on the Maine state quarter, sank in early July while docked in Brooklyn.
Owned by New York City-based company Crew, which transforms historic ships into floating bars and restaurants, the 121-foot Pilot and the 128-foot Victory Chimes submerged during a period of strong squalls. The exact cause of their sinking remains undetermined.
Crew is collaborating with insurers, marine salvage experts, and surveyors to decide the next steps for the sunken schooners. Alex Pincus, CEO of Crew, noted the complexity of raising such large wooden vessels, emphasizing the need for specialized equipment and careful planning.
The maritime community is urging Crew to make every effort to save the ships and to clarify the circumstances leading to their sinking. Brad Vogel of the Gowanus Dredgers expressed disappointment, highlighting the desire for answers from both Maine and New York City residents.
The Victory Chimes, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the last surviving Chesapeake ram. Its loss is considered a significant blow to Maine and the nation’s maritime history, according to Steve Bromage of the Maine Historical Society.
The Pilot, which once served in Boston Harbor and was used by the Coast Guard during World War II, became an educational and research vessel in the 1970s and 1980s, with Jacques Cousteau among its guests. Crew acquired it in 2015 and converted it into an oyster bar.
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Rebuilding these schooners, should they be raised, would be a formidable and costly task, partly due to the unavailability of the specific timber used in their original construction, according to Charlie Weidman of Charlie’s Marine Service.
The schooners were initially docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park before being moved to Henry Street Basin, near the Gowanus Canal, a federal Superfund site known for its toxic conditions. Efforts are underway for its long-term cleanup.
Amanda Pleau of the Maine Maritime Museum commented on the difficulty of maintaining such historic schooners, noting that their loss, while sad, is not entirely surprising given the challenges involved.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)