Two historic vessels, one of which is located in Maine’s State District, have been lying submerged in the contaminated waters of the Gowanus Canal since their unexpected sinking in July, and now, they might face disposal.
Sources revealed that the owners, who operate a restaurant business, are not inclined to invest significant funds—possibly in the millions—to retrieve and restore the submerged Victory Chime from Maine as well as the Pilot, a former research ship associated with the famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, from Brooklyn’s murky depths.
Officials described the plans for the schooner as “complete dismantling,” saying it has effectively become worthless, with a combined history of 232 years.
The brothers, Alex and Miles Pincus, run Crew, a business that transforms boats into chic floating eateries. They had moved the Pilot to an inlet on the Gowanus Canal for repairs several months ago.
The 1924 Pilot is recognized as the longest-serving pilot vessel in U.S. history, previously a research platform for Cousteau and now a candidate for National Historic Landmark status. It had enjoyed popularity as a floating oyster bar while under the Pincus brothers’ management.
The Victory Chime, a 1900 vessel and the last remaining Chesapeake ram schooner, holds the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark itself, even appearing on Maine’s state quarter in 2003. Initially, it had similar prospects for its future.
However, both ships sank within days of each other in Red Hook’s Henry Street Basin over the July 4th holiday.
Experts commented that the situation for the municipalities could be grim since wooden vessels like these quickly accumulate water and require constant maintenance, especially since there’s no shore power in the remote basin.
Without a firm plan for when the ships might refloat, insurance won’t cover the damages.
Zdenek Ullman, the owner of Marine Diving Service, which had intervened when the schooner sank, suggested three potential routes for the schooner’s future.
“We could either refloat the vessel and take it to a repair yard, dispose of it entirely after refloating, or dismantle it right where it is and then remove it,” he explained.
The brothers are reportedly undecided about their course of action but seem unwilling to spend any money, particularly with the estimated cost of keeping the boat afloat being around $500,000—far more than the $75,900 they paid for the Victory Chime last year.
According to an official, “The Victory Chime is in poorer condition compared to others and may not be worth the expense of repairs. With the latest updates, they might be leaning toward scrapping both vessels.”
It was reported that desperation drove the brothers to contact the previous owners of Victory Chime, asking them to take it back.
Charlie Wideman of Charlie’s Marine Services recounted, “The Pincus brothers reached out to the old captain asking, ‘We’ll pay you to take the ship off our hands,’ because they didn’t want to deal with it.” He noted that they had wanted to focus on an oyster bar, knowing it would be more profitable.
Frustration runs high among Mainers about the potential downfall of the ships, especially given their skepticism regarding the brothers’ intentions to turn Victory Chime into part of a restaurant chain.
Photographer Quinton Donleavy, who helped build the original website for Victory Chimes in Maine, remarked, “Nobody enjoyed seeing it become a bar, but it seemed better than becoming scrap.” He further expressed sorrow over the vessel’s fate, reminiscing how it was once a celebrated boat that had, quite tragically, ended up submerged in unappealing waters among other neglected crafts.
The crew of the restaurant did not respond to inquiries for comment, stating merely that the investigation into the incident remains active.
