Collision of Mexican Navy Ship with Brooklyn Bridge
A Mexican Navy training vessel recently crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, but interestingly, no distress calls were made before the incident. Instead, the ship’s crew reached out for assistance, as explained by the Mexican naval secretary.
Navy chief Raymund Morales stated that the port pilot in charge of the Cuauhtémoc ship was positioned some distance from the bridge, which left little time to react. He added, “At this point, we cannot estimate whether the port pilots have properly used all the available measures,” during a press conference alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Authorities confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer any significant structural damage due to the collision. Tragically, two sailors lost their lives, and over 20 others sustained injuries while navigating the almost 150-foot-high vessel, which struck the bridge around 8:30 PM on Saturday. Fortunately, all injuries were confined to those aboard the ship, meaning none of the 277 crew members fell into the water.
In footage of the accident, the visible impact caused three masts on the vessel to snap, showing crew members desperately clinging to the damaged rigging. U.S. officials are now investigating the matter, including potential engine issues and the involvement of tugboats meant to assist the ship’s departure from the pier. This investigation is expected to take about 30 days.
President Sheinbaum noted the importance of cooperation with the navy and the insurance companies that support the ship’s operations. Meanwhile, two cadets who suffered serious injuries are currently being treated at a hospital in New York, and their families accompanied them. “Their lives are not in danger and will likely be released from the hospital on Wednesday,” Morales remarked. However, the two cadets who sadly passed away were returned to Mexico for burial, where their families now have them.
The Cuauhtémoc, which was constructed in Bilbao, Spain, back in 1981, is known for its past achievements, including winning the Tall Ships race twice. The vessel was docked in New York City as part of a promotional event for next year’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
