Schooners that graced a Maine-themed quarter or hosted Cousteau rest at the bottom of a NYC canal

For over a century, the historic schooners Pilot and Victory Chimes have served the nation in wartime, hosted Jacques Cousteau, and graced the Maine state quarter. These majestic wooden vessels, known for their towering sails, have now met their demise in the polluted waters of New York City's Gowanus Canal.

The 121-foot-long Pilot, a century-old vessel, and the 128-foot-long Victory Chimes, dating back to 1900 and featured on the 2003 Maine quarter, sank early in July while moored near Brooklyn Bridge Park. The exact cause of their sinking remains unclear, but strong squalls are believed to have played a role.

Crew, the New York City-based company that owns the schooners, is now working with insurers, marine salvage experts, and marine surveyors to determine the next steps for the sunken boats. Crew CEO Alex Pincus explained that raising wooden vessels of this size is a complex operation requiring specialized equipment, careful planning, and extensive coordination. As of now, the vessels remain submerged, awaiting further assessments and planning.

Many in the maritime community are urging Crew to take measures to save the ships, while also seeking answers about their sudden sinking. Brad Vogel, a member of the Gowanus Dredgers canoe club, expressed his disappointment, stating that the loss of the ships is "a shame" and "in some ways unforgivable." He emphasized the importance of understanding what is being done to address the situation, as both Mainers and New Yorkers are eager for transparency.

The Victory Chimes holds a special place in maritime history as the last surviving Chesapeake ram, a flat-bottomed schooner built for navigating shallow waters. Steve Bromage, executive director of the Maine Historical Society, called the potential loss of the vessel "heartbreaking for Maine and the nation's maritime heritage." He emphasized the importance of salvaging the ship, despite the significant effort and expense involved, as it represents an irreplaceable part of history.

The Pilot, once used to ferry maritime pilots to larger ships in Boston Harbor and to aid the Coast Guard during World War II, had a storied past. It transformed into an educational and research vessel in the 1970s and 1980s, and Jacques Cousteau spent time aboard the vessel during that period. The schooner was acquired by Crew in 2015 and repurposed as an oyster bar.

However, the company's decision to turn the historic vessel into a floating restaurant appears to have been a misguided attempt to monetize its historical significance.

Even if the ships can be salvaged, rebuilding them would prove to be an extremely challenging and costly endeavor. Charlie Weidman, a marine service expert from Rockland, Maine, who previously shared a dock with the Victory Chimes, expressed his skepticism about the feasibility of such a project. He noted that the type of timber used in the construction of these vessels is no longer readily available, making restoration efforts even more difficult.

The Gowanus Canal, where the schooners now lie submerged, is a federal Superfund site, notorious for its toxic legacy. Despite ongoing cleanup efforts, the vessel's location exacerbates concerns about the potential environmental impact of raising the ships. The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, which manages the park where the boats were originally docked, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Maritime and historical experts agree that the loss of these historic schooners is a significant blow to both the maritime community and the broader cultural landscape. Amanda Pleau, a spokesperson for the Maine Maritime Museum, emphasized that most turn-of-the-century schooners typically last less than 20 years, making their survival over a century truly remarkable. The loss of such vessels is often deemed "sad, but not entirely unexpected," given the challenges associated with preserving them for future generations.