Bounty II
Encyclopedia
This article is about the replica ship. See for information on the original ship.
The Bounty II is a reconstruction of the original sailing ship HMS Bounty
, which served in the Royal Navy
.
Bounty II was commissioned by the MGM film studio for the 1962 film named Mutiny on the Bounty
. This vessel was built to the original ship's drawings from files in the British admiralty archives, and in the traditional manner in a shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
. All dimensions were increased by approximately one third to accommodate the large 70 mm cameras used in the filming.
Bounty II was scheduled to be burned at the end of the film, however Marlon Brando
threatened to walk off the set in protest, so MGM kept this vessel in service. After filming and a worldwide promotional tour, MGM berthed the ship in St. Petersburg, Florida
as a permanent tourist attraction, where she stayed until the mid-1980s. In 1986 Ted Turner
acquired the MGM film library and the Bounty with it. The ship was used for promotional and entertaining activities, and was used during the filming of Treasure Island
with Charlton Heston
in 1989. In 1993, Turner donated the ship to the Fall River Chamber Foundation, which established the Tall Ship Bounty Foundation to operate the ship as an educational venture. In February 2001 Bounty II was purchased from the Foundation by the HMS Bounty Organization LLC.http://www.tallshipbounty.org/index.php The ship is currently for sale.
Although lack of expensive maintenance caused the vessel to lose her United States Coast Guard
license for a time, the Bounty II was restored, initially at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in 2002, with restoration of the vessel's bottom planking. Moored in its winter home in St. Petersburg, Florida
, it again became available for charter, excursions, sail-training, and movies (most recently in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and the adult film Pirates). In April 2006, the Bounty II again arrived in Boothbay Harbor for further renovation, a refurbishing of the ship's front end, and topside decking. Following this renovation, the Bounty II is scheduled to repeat the famous voyage of the original Bounty
On 9 August 2007, the Bounty II made an unscheduled stop at Derry
, Northern Ireland
. The ship had just completed a $3m restoration and was making a seven week UK tour prior to embarking on a world tour via South Africa and New Zealand to Pitcairn and Tahiti. The UK tour began with her arrival at the birthplace of mutiny leader Fletcher Christian in Maryport, Cumbria, at midday on Tuesday, 14 August 2007. The ship was about three days ahead of schedule which is why it sought out Derry for a 'quiet' stopover before completing the journey to Maryport. On 23 August 2007 the ship docked in Torquay
, Devon
, for several days.
On Saturday 12 September 2009 the ship was berthed at Custom House Quay in Greenock
, Inverclyde
, Scotland
, as part of a tour of several UK ports. At about 0410 BST thieves targeted the ship and stole a small sum of cash and several items of clothing with the Bounty's insignia, a survival suit, book, life ring and an American flag. The items were later recovered nearby.
The Bounty II is a reconstruction of the original sailing ship HMS Bounty
HMS Bounty
HMS Bounty , famous as the scene of the Mutiny on the Bounty on 28 April 1789, was originally a three-masted cargo ship, the Bethia, purchased by the British Admiralty, then modified and commissioned as His Majesty's Armed Vessel the...
, which served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Bounty II was commissioned by the MGM film studio for the 1962 film named Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962 film)
Mutiny on the Bounty is a 1962 film starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The film retells the 1789 real-life mutiny aboard HMAV Bounty led by Fletcher Christian against the ship's captain, William Bligh...
. This vessel was built to the original ship's drawings from files in the British admiralty archives, and in the traditional manner in a shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
. All dimensions were increased by approximately one third to accommodate the large 70 mm cameras used in the filming.
Bounty II was scheduled to be burned at the end of the film, however Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
threatened to walk off the set in protest, so MGM kept this vessel in service. After filming and a worldwide promotional tour, MGM berthed the ship in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
as a permanent tourist attraction, where she stayed until the mid-1980s. In 1986 Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
acquired the MGM film library and the Bounty with it. The ship was used for promotional and entertaining activities, and was used during the filming of Treasure Island
Treasure Island (1990 film)
Treasure Island is a 1990 film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous 1883 novel Treasure Island. It was filmed in 1989 on location in Cornwall, England, and in Jamaica, and also at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England....
with Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
in 1989. In 1993, Turner donated the ship to the Fall River Chamber Foundation, which established the Tall Ship Bounty Foundation to operate the ship as an educational venture. In February 2001 Bounty II was purchased from the Foundation by the HMS Bounty Organization LLC.http://www.tallshipbounty.org/index.php The ship is currently for sale.
Although lack of expensive maintenance caused the vessel to lose her United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
license for a time, the Bounty II was restored, initially at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in 2002, with restoration of the vessel's bottom planking. Moored in its winter home in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, it again became available for charter, excursions, sail-training, and movies (most recently in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a 2006 adventure fantasy film and the second film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, following Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . It was directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by...
, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and the adult film Pirates). In April 2006, the Bounty II again arrived in Boothbay Harbor for further renovation, a refurbishing of the ship's front end, and topside decking. Following this renovation, the Bounty II is scheduled to repeat the famous voyage of the original Bounty
On 9 August 2007, the Bounty II made an unscheduled stop at Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The ship had just completed a $3m restoration and was making a seven week UK tour prior to embarking on a world tour via South Africa and New Zealand to Pitcairn and Tahiti. The UK tour began with her arrival at the birthplace of mutiny leader Fletcher Christian in Maryport, Cumbria, at midday on Tuesday, 14 August 2007. The ship was about three days ahead of schedule which is why it sought out Derry for a 'quiet' stopover before completing the journey to Maryport. On 23 August 2007 the ship docked in Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, for several days.
On Saturday 12 September 2009 the ship was berthed at Custom House Quay in Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Inverclyde
Inverclyde
Inverclyde is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire - which current exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, as part of a tour of several UK ports. At about 0410 BST thieves targeted the ship and stole a small sum of cash and several items of clothing with the Bounty's insignia, a survival suit, book, life ring and an American flag. The items were later recovered nearby.