Historic schooners sink in New York City's Gowanus Canal

Two historic schooners, the Pilot and the Victory Chimes, have sunk in an inlet near New York City’s Gowanus Canal. The vessels, owned by the New York-based company Crew, were docked on the Brooklyn waterfront when they went down in early July during a period of strong squalls.

The Victory Chimes, which dates back to 1900, is notable for being featured on the 2003 Maine state quarter. Both ships have significant maritime history, having served during wartime and hosted figures such as Jacques Cousteau.

Crew CEO Alex Pincus stated that the company is working with marine surveyors, insurers, and salvage experts to assess the situation, noting that raising wooden vessels of this scale is a highly complex operation. Meanwhile, members of the maritime community and local groups, such as the Gowanus Dredgers, are calling for accountability and a commitment to salvaging the historic ships.