HMS Bounty, 'Pirate Of The Caribbean' Ship, Sunk By Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has claimed a large victim, the HMS Bounty.

The replica tall ship sank off the coast of Hatteras, N.C., at 8:45 a.m., Monday, according to the Coast Guard.

With its location approximately 160 miles away from the eye of Hurricane Sandy, the ship began to take on water and lost power Sunday evening, forcing its crew to abandon ship into the 18-foot waves and 40-mile-per-hour winds, WITN reports.

"The 17-person crew donned cold-water survival suits and lifejackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Coast Guard’s Jayhawk crew reached the stranded crew about 90 minutes after they abandoned ship. The initial rescue by a HC-130 Hercules aircraft saved five people at 9:15 a.m., while a second helicopter rescued another nine.

Reports indicate that 14 of the ship’s crew members have been rescued.

There are currently conflicting reports as to how many people were on board the ship. According to CBC News, original reports sent to the Coast Guard indicated 17 crew members, while only 16 heat signatures were detected.

It remains unknown why the HMS Bounty was out at sea during Hurricane Sandy.

According to Business Insider, the HMS Bounty departed Connecticut last week and was sailing to St. Petersburg, Fla.

The ship was a replica of the British Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty that was famous for the mutiny that occurred aboard the ship in 1789.

The replica was used as part of the 1962 film “Mutiny on the Bounty,” starring Marlon Brando. It was also used on “Treasure Island” and “Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest.”