Younger movie-goers know the square-rigged ship by its popular tag ”“ “The Black Pearl” ”“ and older generations remember it from the Marlon Brando version of “Mutiny on the Bounty.” Its new owner bought the replica of Captain Bligh”™s HMS Bounty when it was derelict and in need of serious repair.
“I saw it in 2001 and couldn”™t believe it was for sale,” said Long Island air-conditioning contractor Robert Hansen, who didn”™t disclose the selling price, but admitted to pouring nearly $7 million into the majestic square-rigger to completely restore it ”“ with a few modern-day extras.
The ship was built for the 1962 movie version of “Mutiny on the Bounty” and used in all of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Besides the silver screen, it has helped pay for itself via souvenirs, tours and opportunities to become crew members. “It has attracted a lot of attention and brought us many visitors wherever we dock, particularly because it was in the movies,” said Hansen. “Even without that cachet, it is a living piece of history to remind us of what life was like for our ancestors.”
The HMS Bounty is a tribute to the real vessel that made its ill-fated voyage to collect breadfruit in Tahiti in the 1700s, said Hansen. “Imagine what it was like to travel thousands of miles on a ship like this, battling pirates and the elements, meeting people of all races and cultures, and the fruits and vegetables those seamen brought back and cultivated here and abroad?” said Hansen. “It”™s really humbling, considering the world we live in now.”
HMS Bounty has sailed up and down the coasts of Europe and the U.S.  “Wherever we dock, we attract thousands of people,” said Hansen, who berthed the Bounty at Newburgh”™s waterfront for five days, attracting more than 5,000 visitors during its stay. “We are literally a traveling show.”
From Newburgh, it moved to Yonkers; then it was to sail to Fall River, Mass., for regular maintenance and repair work.
“This is a full-time operation, and we are always on the move,” said Hansen. “It costs approximately $3 (million ) to $4 million a year to keep it seaworthy and to maintain the crew. It”™s also a wonderful experience for people who become crew members to learn about team-building. Back in the days when ships like this ruled the seas, there was no such thing as, ”˜That”™s not my job.”™ The ship”™s company pulled together to battle storms, pirate ships and keeping it maintained. They kept ”˜watch”™ seven days a week, 24 hours a day.”
While the ship sleeps 45, Hansen said “Living conditions are Spartan ”“ except for air conditioning.” (That was a given, considering Hansen”™s primary line of work.)
Newburgh welcomed the Bounty to its harbor. “It”™s great to have something positive happen to remind critics how great this city is and can be,” said Betsy McKean, records manager for Newburgh. Hansen credited McKean with bringing the Bounty to the city”™s waterfront.
