Sunken historic ships in NYC likely to be scrapped as garbage

Two historic vessels, the Victory Chimes and the PILOT, have been submerged in the Henry Street Basin in Red Hook, Brooklyn, since early July. The Victory Chimes, a 1900 Chesapeake Ram schooner and a US National Historic Landmark, was featured on Maine's state quarter in 2003. The PILOT, built in 1924, served as the longest-serving pilot ship in US history and was later used by Jacques Cousteau for research. Both were owned by brothers Alex and Miles Pincus, who run Crew, a company that converts boats into floating restaurant bars. They had moved the vessels to the Gowanus Canal area for repairs, but the ships sank within days of each other over the July 4th weekend. The brothers have not yet decided on a course of action, but sources indicate they are unwilling to spend the substantial funds required for salvage and restoration. Refloating the boats alone could cost at least $500,000, and total repair costs could reach millions. The lack of shore power in the basin has made it difficult to keep the wooden vessels pumped out, leading to their deterioration. An insider suggested that the brothers are leaning toward disposing of both vessels, possibly by demolishing them in place or scrapping them after refloating. The potential loss of these historic ships has angered many in Maine, where the Victory Chimes was once the official Windjammer of Maine. The brothers had previously tried to give the Victory Chimes back to its former captain, offering to pay for its return, but the offer was not accepted. The ships' fate remains uncertain, but the likelihood of their being scrapped has saddened those who valued their historical significance.