Beloved Former Restaurant Boat Sinks In Red Hook

The schooner Pilot, a century-old vessel built in 1924, sank at its maintenance location near Henry Street in Red Hook on Wednesday morning. The ship, owned by the hospitality group Crew, was a fixture of the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront at Pier 6 until it was replaced last year by a new fireboat bar. No one was on board at the time of the incident, and the owners are currently working with authorities to determine the cause and evaluate salvage options.

Local residents and preservationists reported seeing the vessel's masts protruding from the water and debris, including barstools, floating in the basin. The Pilot was one of only two remaining racing schooners from the International Fisherman’s Cup and had a storied history serving as a Coast Guard guide during World War II and a research vessel used by Jacques Cousteau. Before the sinking, the boat was in the process of seeking National Historic Landmark status.

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