Sailing Vessel Cuauhtemoc Damaged Striking Brooklyn Bridge \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, breaking its masts during a promotional stop in New York City. Eyewitnesses captured the dramatic moment as the vessel’s rigging struck the bridge and partially collapsed. Authorities responded to possible injuries as the ship drifted in the East River.
Quick Looks
- Bridge Struck by Masts: Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtemoc’s three masts hit the Brooklyn Bridge, partially collapsing.
- Eyewitness Footage Circulates: Onlookers captured dramatic videos of the incident, showing heavy traffic and a dangling crew member.
- Emergency Response Deployed: FDNY confirmed injury response but did not release specifics.
- Ship Drifted After Impact: Cuauhtemoc floated toward the riverbank, flying the Mexican flag.
- Training Ship on Global Tour: The ship is on a 22-port journey across 15 countries.
- Dignitaries Respond: Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and U.S. ambassador engaged following the accident.
- Bridge History Noted: The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883, sees over 100,000 vehicles daily.
- Ship’s Mission Interrupted: The accident halted Cuauhtemoc’s tour; damage and safety are under review.
Deep Look
A festive promotional visit to New York City by the Mexican navy’s sailing ship Cuauhtémoc took a dramatic turn on Saturday when the tall-masted vessel struck the Brooklyn Bridge, causing a partial collapse of its rigging and igniting emergency response efforts. The incident occurred in the East River as the ship floated beneath the iconic span, its three towering masts colliding with the bridge’s lower structure.
Eyewitness videos quickly circulated online, showing masts snapping against the bridge deck, splintering in the aftermath of the impact. The top of the vessel became entangled in the bridge’s lower beams, and debris could be seen falling as cars and pedestrians moved across the bridge, one of the city’s most heavily trafficked and historic landmarks.
According to the New York Fire Department, emergency responders arrived on the scene and confirmed that injuries occurred, though the number and nature of those injuries remain unclear. FDNY did not immediately clarify whether the injured were aboard the vessel or on the bridge during the crash.
Onlookers Witness Sailor Dangling from Damaged Mast
New York residents Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz, speaking to the Associated Press, recounted witnessing the moment of impact while sitting outside enjoying the sunset. They described the horrifying sight of a crew member dangling from a damaged mast, suspended in a harness for at least 15 minutes before being rescued.
“We saw someone dangling,” Katz said. “We zoomed in on our phone and saw someone hanging from the top. It was terrifying.”
They also observed two individuals being removed from the ship on stretchers and transferred to smaller rescue boats for medical evaluation.
Cuauhtémoc’s Mission Interrupted
The Mexican Navy later confirmed via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the ship involved in the accident was indeed the Cuauhtémoc, a sailing vessel used as a floating academy for final-year cadets of the Mexican Naval Military School. The vessel had only recently docked at Pier 17 in Manhattan on May 13 and had been welcoming visitors as part of its international goodwill voyage.
The Navy described the incident as an “accident involving the Brooklyn Bridge” and said the ship was now unable to continue its journey as scheduled. The Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry also posted on X, confirming that its U.S. ambassador and local consulate officials were working with American authorities to assist “affected cadets.” However, the statement did not address the status of injuries or further damage.
A Floating Ambassador with Global Reach
Launched in 1982, the Cuauhtémoc is considered a symbolic ambassador of the Mexican Navy, often referred to as the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas.” The ship is approximately 297 feet (90.5 meters) long and 40 feet (12 meters) wide, and features three large masts, which played a critical role in the collision.
The current mission began April 6 in Acapulco, with a crew of 277 onboard, many of whom are cadets completing their maritime education. The voyage was designed to visit 22 ports across 15 countries, including stops in Kingston (Jamaica), Havana (Cuba), Cozumel (Mexico), Reykjavik (Iceland), and several cities in France and the United Kingdom. The ship was expected to be at sea for 254 days, including 170 days actively sailing.
A Historic Bridge and a Costly Collision
The Brooklyn Bridge, a national landmark opened in 1883, spans nearly 1,600 feet (490 meters) and supports over 100,000 vehicles and 32,000 pedestrians each day. With its neo-Gothic towers and suspension cables, it remains one of New York’s most visited structures.
The crash raises immediate questions about navigation planning, clearance assessments, and potential structural inspections for both the vessel and the bridge. The U.S. Coast Guard and local transportation authorities are expected to launch a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the impact.
As of now, the Cuauhtémoc has been secured near the shore, its voyage halted, its mast in pieces, and its crew recovering from a jarring event that transformed a ceremonial goodwill stop into a rescue and recovery operation.
Sailing Vessel Cuauhtemoc Sailing Vessel Cuauhtemoc
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