A marine construction company dredging the Charlotte Amalie Harbor may have come upon two items of historical value. Earlier this week, two anchors, a large one and a smaller one, were hauled onto the Crown Bay Dock for temporary storage.
According to Dale Gregory, director of engineering for the V.I. Port Authority, the anchors were discovered during the dredging work that is being done in the harbor to help accommodate the big new eagle-class cruise ships.
"When the contractors were dredging off of Hassel Island, they found these anchors," Gregory said, adding that he will consult with the Planning and Natural Resources Department to determine where the anchors will be placed permanently.
Ron Sherwood, who has been active on the marine scene for years, said the anchors resemble those used a few hundred years ago.
"I suspect that the large one was used on those big freighters which were routinely in the harbor during the late 1800s and early 1900s," he said.
Sherwood said the anchors are a type that can be taken apart once on board a vessel so they would not shift around while on high seas.
The anchors remain on the northeastern end of the Crown Bay Dock.
