In a shocking incident on Saturday evening, a tall ship from the Mexican Navy collided with the historic Brooklyn Bridge merely five minutes after departing from its dock in Manhattan. According to federal investigators, the crash resulted in the tragic loss of two crew members and left over twenty others injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Sunday that it had dispatched a specialized team to New York City to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The NTSB's investigation team comprises experts in nautical operations, marine and bridge engineering, and survival factors. However, as of Monday, investigators had not yet interviewed the vessel's captain or any other crew members. Brian Young, the NTSB's investigator in charge, provided details about the ship's journey. The vessel, named Cuauhtémoc, arrived at Pier 17 on May 13 and remained there for several days before setting sail at 8:20 p.m. on May 17, assisted by a tugboat.
Just four minutes after departure, around 8:24 p.m., the ship's mast struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. Young described the conditions during the incident as dusk, with westerly winds blowing at approximately 10 knots and a current of about 0.3 knots moving toward the bridge. As the ship left the dock, its stern accelerated and reached speeds of up to six knots.
Investigators are carefully examining the tugboat's role during the ship's departure. "As far as we know at this time, the tugboat had assisted the vessel in moving off the pier," Young stated. "Part of our investigation will be to look into the tugboat’s policies and procedures for operation after assisting the vessel." The investigation aims to understand the tugboat's guidance and its responsibilities following the ship's departure.
The incident, involving the Cuauhtémoc, was captured on various social media platforms, showcasing the ship's approximately 147-foot-tall masts striking the bridge and snapping upon impact. Some crew members, who were harnessed to the masts as part of a traditional performance during the vessel’s departure, were seen dangling from ropes after the collision. At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying 277 sailors, according to the Mexican government.
Fortunately, city officials confirmed that the 142-year-old Brooklyn Bridge did not sustain any structural damage. Initial assessments suggest that the ship may have lost power shortly after leaving the dock, causing it to drift toward the bridge. Following the incident, the vessel was relocated to Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan, where it remains pending further investigation.
Michael Graham, an NTSB board member, mentioned that efforts are underway to collaborate with the Mexican government to gain access to the ship. "We are optimistic that we will have that access very soon," Graham noted. He added that discussions were taking place regarding relocating the vessel to a salvage yard for further examination. The investigation will focus on three main areas: the crew's operations, the condition of the vessel, and the environmental factors, including weather, wind, current, and tide.
As the investigation continues, Young reported that the ship is currently docked on the East Side of Manhattan, with the crew still living aboard. Officials will assess its structural integrity before any further movement. By Sunday evening, members of the community had set up a memorial for the victims along the Brooklyn waterfront near the bridge. The Mexican Navy confirmed that more than 170 crew members had been flown back to Mexico by early Monday, while two others remain in stable condition at a New York hospital.
The NTSB has indicated that a preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days, shedding more light on this tragic incident.
