Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn bridge after losing power

[WPOZZZ]

What a mess! They almost took out the pier, too.

https://nypost.com/2025/05/17/us-news/ship-carrying-200-people-hits-the-brooklyn-bridge-as-search-and-rescue-operation-underway/

[Baz]

Holy cow!

[Tobra]

That did not turn out too bad, all things considered.

[drew1]

https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-bridge-collision-mexican-navy-ship-ca335dc85ebfbf981bc38516985461c8

In a scene captured in multiple eyewitness videos, the ship, called the Cuauhtemoc, could be seen traveling swiftly in reverse toward the bridge near the Brooklyn side of the East River. Then, its three masts struck the bridge’s span and snapped, one by one, as the ship kept moving.

Videos showed heavy traffic on the span at the time of the 8:20 p.m. collision. No one on the bridge was reported injured.

The vessel, which was flying a giant Mexican flag and had 277 people aboard, then drifted into a pier on the riverbank as onlookers scrambled away.

[Arizona_928]

I don’t think those old sailboats have engines. Tbh, itooks like the tugs kept pulling…

[sc_rufctr]

Wow... Someone's got some explaining to do.

The last report I watched stated that two people had died from their injuries.

[A930Rocket]

Why was it traveling backwards?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Why was it traveling backwards?

I'm guessing but it looks like it was being propelled by its auxiliary motor.

- Some sort of malfunction?

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Why was it traveling backwards?

Supposedly, it lost power, just like the Baltimore Bridge crash, and it was pushed by the current. Pretty damn fast for the current.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

another video here, different perspective

Mexican Navy Sailing Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing 2 Crew Members

[Daves911L]

Cuahtemoc is not a vintage tall ship

From wikipedia:

Length: 297′
Launched: January 9, 1982
Draft: 17.7 ft (5.4 m)
Beam: 39′
Capacity: Fuel capacity: 220 tons; Water capacity: 110 tons
Crew: 186 officer and crew; 90 trainees
Installed power: 1,125 hp (839 kW) Auxiliary engine

Looks like the Mexican navy is pretty much like the rest of Mexico. It just doesn't work right. And for the record, I lived and worked 3 years in Mexico when i was young. Beautiful country. Lovely people. Completely hamstrung politically and economically by a cultural mindset.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Anybody know the purpose of this ship? It looks like it was an old sailing ship being used for some sort of entertainment or ceremonial purposes. There were people up on the masts for some reason.

It also wasn’t even freaking close to clearing the bridge. You would think someone would have pre-planned the route.

[oldE]

The East River does have a strong current in places. There was a tidal power test site just up stream from there a decade or so ago. Roosevelt Island, if my memory serves me. The ship must have come in through Long Island Sound and may have been preparing to leave, thus was pointed in to that direction. No way she came in under the bridge.

Best
Les

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by oldE

The East River does have a strong current in places. There was a tidal power test site just up stream from there a decade or so ago. Roosevelt Island, if my memory serves me. The ship must have come in through Long Island Sound and may have been preparing to leave, thus was pointed in to that direction. No way she came in under the bridge.

Best
Les

True, I've watched the river speed by like the 9 train many times when I was living in NYC.,

[oldE]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Anybody know the purpose of this ship? It looks like it was an old sailing ship being used for some sort of entertainment or ceremonial purposes. There were people up on the masts for some reason.

It also wasn’t even freaking close to clearing the bridge. You would think someone would have pre-planned the route.

Training ship for cadets. Yes, they had people on the yard arms. "Dressing the ship","possibly in salute as they prepared to leave.

Best
Les

[greglepore]

That tug along side had clearly been called to try and help, just couldn't get there in time. Massive current.
There were cadets all along the yards. Amazing only 2 fatalities.

[GothingNC]

The Cuauhtémoc was built in Bilbao, Spain, in 1981 and originally called Celaya, according to Sail Training International, stating that the vessel was later acquired by the Mexican Navy as a training vessel for officers, cadets, petty officers, and sailors.

"Cuauhtémoc sailed the world for 13 years and in 1995 underwent a major refit of the ship and rigging. Cuauhtémoc has been the proud winner of the Tall Ships' Races on two occasions," states its website.

ts expansive sail area covers about 2,368 square meters (25,500 square feet), according to reference site Military Factory. It is powered primarily by wind, though it also carries an auxiliary diesel engine capable of 1,125 horsepower output to one shaft, allowing speeds of up to 10 knots, and has served as a training ship for 27 cadet classes to date.

According to the Mexican Navy, the Cuauhtémoc, known colloquially as the "Knight of the Seas," has participated in numerous international goodwill tours, visiting ports around the world.

"Its keel has cut through the waves to carry the Mexican people's message of peace and goodwill to countless nations, docking in hundreds of ports to serve as one of our nation's most important ambassadors.

"On board, the cadets of the Mexican Navy have been trained in the most solid of seafaring traditions: one that relies on sails and ropes, that knows the skies and sets the course with a sextant, and, above all, is capable of creating a bond that unites sailors in the values ​​of honor, duty, loyalty, and patriotism."

"Since 1982, the Sailing School Ship Cuauhtémoc has sailed the world's seas," the navy said on its website, prior to the incident.

[CurtEgerer]

Mexico has a navy?

[TimT]

The ship was moored at the South Street seaport, and was leaving the dock to head to Iceland.. The Seaport is south of the four East River bridges (all have similar vertical clearances of about 130')

To enter the harbor it passed under the Verrazano Narrows Br (clearance 228')

As mentioned the currents in the East river are strong and fast.. I'm surprised there were no tugs to help the ship leave port..

The Ironworkers are already cashing the OT checks for the repair work.

[Arizona_928]

The videos show multiple tugs