A sailing ship that featured in a number of films, including the Count Of Montecristo, was found sunk in its moorings at the Strand, Sliema, on Sunday morning.

It is still unknown what caused the Charlotte Louise to sink, according to Kevin Zammit Briffa, from Captain Morgan Cruises, the company that operates a number of vessels that provide cruises and excursions. The vessel is expected to be refloated in the coming days. The boat was undergoing maintenance and Captain Morgan crew were on board on Saturday afternoon to carry out routine inspections.

The Charlotte Louise was built in West Scotland in 1942 and first appeared in Malta in the late 1980s. Mr Zammit Briffa said the Englishman who operated her eventually fled the island with the vessel, leaving behind a considerable amount of debt.

Captain Morgan Cruises then bought the vessel through the British courts and it was sailed back to Malta in 1992 following extensive reparis in the UK. The vessel was rebuilt in 1999 and continued operating in local waters as a tourist charter vessel.