A MEXICAN sail training ship has smashed into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge yesterday (17 May local time), killing two crew members and injuring at least 19.
Intense footage from bystanders shows the 90-metre LOA Cuauhtémoc sailing backwards, before its tall masts impact the historic bridge.
Cadets on board the vessel could be seen hanging off its masts and rigging after the crash, in the intense movie-like footage.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Cuauhtémoc had “lost power” directly before the incident, while other overseas sources have reported the vessel as suffering an issue with its steering.
The Mexican Navy confirmed no crew members had fallen into the water during the incident, despite the New York City Fire Department initially scanning the water.
Chief of training from the New York City Fire Department, Michael Meyers said in a post on X “Originally, we had a Brooklyn box out for folks in the water, for a boat in distress”.
“Once the marine units arrived on scene, we knew immediately that we had a serious incident with a boat striking the bridge, so we had reports of people in the water.”
A New York City transportation official reportedly confirmed the bridge sustained no major damage, with traffic having been reopened in both directions after a preliminary inspection.
The ship was reportedly in New York on a goodwill stop during a training cruise that was bound for Iceland.
The Mexican embassy is reportedly now making arrangements to reunite the cadets with their families, with the training cruise being terminated.
Cuauhtémoc will presumably require repairs following the incident, with the crash having impacted and potentially demasted all three of her topgallant masts, per footage, with the bridge allowing a clearance of 135 feet, and the ship’s masts 158 feet in height.
The shipis now reportedly berthed at Pier 36 on NYC’s East River, with damage assessments and salvage plans now under way
The Coast Guard has established a 50-yard safety zone around the vessel, asking passing traffic to transit at slow speed, while the harbor's VTS service monitors the scene, and NYCPolice Department's marine units are patrolling the safety zone.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted about the incident online, saying “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor”.
“I thank New York Mayor Eric Adams for all the support he has provided to our fellow citizens. We are monitoring the situation, and the Navy will continue to provide updates.”
The Mexican Navy confirmed it was reviewing the condition of the crew onboard, adding “The Ministry of the navy reaffirms its commitment to the safety of its personnel, transparency in its operations and excellence in the training of future officers of the Mexican navy”.
Cuauhtémoc visited Australia in September and October last year during a seven-month voyage, stopping at the ports of Fremantle, Melbourne, and Sydney, where she was open to the public for inspections.
The ship has been praised for its ambassadorship of Mexican culture, with the Leeuwin Foundation (WA) having previously highlighting the Mexican music playing on board during its visit last year. The vessel also flies a large Mexican flag at its stern.
Cuauhtémoc was built in Bilbao, Spain in 1982, her design similar to the 1930’s ship designs of the German firm Blohm & Voss.
The ship is named Cuauhtémoc after the last emperor of the Aztecs, and reportedly means “one who has descended like an eagle”.
The incident is eerily similar to the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident in March last year, which saw the Bridge struck by the Maersk ship Dali, causing its collapse.