The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot, three-mast tall ship, sunk off the coast of North Carolina at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Earlier Monday, two Coast Guard helicopters rescued 14 people from life rafts after they were forced to abandon ship, according to NBC news. There were 2 people still missing after the crew members abandoned ship.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Brendan Selerno said the two missing crew members are believed to be in cold water survival suits and life-jackets. He said the air search is being plotted based on wind direction and speed, and will be expanded.
The Coast Guard was originally told 17 people were on the Bounty but only 16 heat signatures were detected. They now say 16 people were on board. The boat's owner says there were 17 people on board.
The owner of the 180-foot, three mast ship lost communication with the crew and alerted the Coast Guard to the situation. The replica of HMS Bounty, which launched in Lunenburg in 1960, was made famous in a 1962 movie starring Marlon Brando - Mutiny on the Bounty. It has also appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest starring Johnny Depp.
