What’s So Special About This 130-Year-Old Sunken Maine Ship?

Ships have sailed off the coast of Maine for hundreds of years.

They brought settlers to the new world, hauled raw materials back to Europe, and took people on fishing trips.  More recently, the waters off our coastline have been filled with recreational boats.

Because of this, it is not a surprise that there are hundreds of shipwrecks off the coast of Maine.  The list of wrecks includes numerous freighters, a few passenger vessels, and at least a few military ships.

These days, one wreck in particular is getting a lot of attention.

A sunken schooner from the 1890s

According to an article in the KJ, on March 8, a Maine LLC filed a salvage claim in the U.S. District Court in Bangor.  JJM LLC, based in Southwest Harbor, seeks to be named the owner of a sunken ship about six miles off the coast of Bar Harbor.

Neither the name of the vessel nor the coordinates of the wreck were disclosed in the filing.

According to the article, the wreck is believed to be that of a two-masted schooner that has a length of 100 feet.  It is believed that the ship was wrecked in a storm in the 1890s.

With the filing now public, a countdown is on to see if anyone else claims ownership of the wreck.  Other parties have 14 days to announce their intention to dispute the claim.

The mystery of the wreck

The real mystery is why the company, which was formed in 2023, wants to take possession of the wreck.

Gregory Johnston, one of the partners in the LLC, says he visited the wreck in November 2023.  Johnston, along with a certified diver, reportedly retrieved several items from the wreck, including a piece of plank.  They also retrieved at least one granite paver from the vessel’s cargo.

Granite pavers are small stones used to pave walkways and streets.  They are similar to what you would find paving the cobblestone streets of Portland’s Old Port.  Currently, these stones go for between $2.00 and $4.50 each.

So why the sudden interest in the century-old wreck?

Clearly, it is not because of the value of the listed cargo.

Is there some historical significance known only to the JJM LLC team?  Was the ship carrying something more valuable than the granite pavers?

Hopefully, once the court proceedings are finished, JJM LLC will hold a press conference explaining why they are so interested in this wreck.

Check out this video of shipwrecks that are so close to the surface that you don't need to dive to see them.

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