Wreck Of WWI-Era Steam Trawler Missing Since 1929 Found In Georges Bank

Atlantic Wreck Salvage (AWS), operator of the deep-diving vessel D/V Tenacious, announced on September 17, 2025, the discovery of the wreck of the steam trawler Seiner, a WWI-era fishing vessel that went missing in January 1929 in the fishing grounds of Georges Bank.

Seiner was a 139-foot steel steam trawler, built in 1921 by Rice Brothers Corporation in East Boothbay, Maine, featuring a raised forecastle deck and a double-drum trawl winch.

The ship departed New London, Connecticut, on January 9, 1929. It was last heard from on January 18, when Captain Thomas Miller submitted a required daily report to the vessel’s owner, Portland Trawling Company.

Concerns grew when Seiner failed to report on January 19 and again when it missed its scheduled return on January 22. The vessel is believed to have sunk in a storm, with all 21 crew members lost.

The wreck was first discovered in 2022 by the D/V Tenacious team, led by Captains Eric Takakjian and Joe Mazraani, using side scan sonar. Due to bad weather, diving was not possible at that time. The team returned on July 27–28, 2025, and completed seven dives.

During these dives, they identified the wreck as Seiner through features including the double-drum trawl winch, remains of the raised forecastle deck, the shape of the stern, and the presence of a steam engine and boiler. Captain Takakjian said that no other steel or iron hull steam trawlers of similar size are known to have sunk in Georges Bank.

Captain Takakjian first learned about Seiner’s sinking in the 1990s while researching trawlers sunk by German U-boats during World War I. Although Seiner sank in a storm shortly after the war, it often came up in his research, leading to a long pursuit. Its location in deep, high-current waters of Georges Bank made finding it very difficult.

The 2025 expedition confirmed that the wreck’s dimensions match historical records. When Seiner went missing, Portland Trawling Company and the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search involving private fishing vessels, twelve patrol boats, and two destroyers. No survivors were found.

Jennifer Sellitti of Atlantic Wreck Salvage said the discovery is both historic and tragic, and the team hopes it offers closure to families of the 21 crew members.

Sadly, Captain Mazraani died two days after the discovery while identifying another wreck in Georges Bank. Since 2022, the team has continued exploring this difficult region, known for strong currents and deep waters.

Reference: boothbayregister

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