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AN ICONIC pirate ship based on a Christopher Columbus vessel has sunk after a disastrous accident off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.
After 30 years of tourist trips, whimsical pirate ship Marigalante went down in the waters following a system failure, the company owning the vessel said.
The historic galleon sank this Friday off Puerto Vallarta’s downtown shoreline in Mexico.
According to Civil Protection and Firefighters of Puerto Vallarta, the incident was caused by a mechanical or electrical failure in the bilge pumps.
Authorities said: “Due to the strong waves, it was impossible to rescue the vessel, which unfortunately ended up sinking.”
It is understood that the crew of the vessel were evacuated safely before the ship sank.
The Marigalante is a stunning replica of the Santa María galleon, one of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus in 1492 when he sailed across the Atlantic.
It was built in 1987 to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of America.
Constructed entirely of wood, it had become an icon of the port – ferrying tourists to give a glimpse of the pirate life at sea.
The vessel was famous for its pirate show, which featured acrobatics, sword fights, and fireworks.
