logo
Four ‘worst-case scenarios' led Mexican ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge, expert reveals

Four ‘worst-case scenarios' led Mexican ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge, expert reveals

Independent19-05-2025

A marine expert has revealed the four 'worst-case scenarios' which caused a Mexican naval ship to crash into Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people and injuring and 19.
Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner, said the ship's height, a powerful current, strong winds and the lack of a more controlled tugboat escort all resulted in the crash on Saturday (17 May).
'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out," Mercogliano told AP.
'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.'
However, Mercogliano claimed the tragedy 'could have been a lot worse' had the ship's steel rigging not been in place, which stopped the masts from falling into the water.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western Mexico
Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western Mexico

The Independent

time4 days ago

  • The Independent

Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western Mexico

A weather system swirling off the coast of western Mexico has developed into the first tropical storm of the eastern North Pacific hurricane season, forecasters said Thursday. Tropical Storm Alvin was located about 670 miles (1,080 kilometers) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph (65 kph). It was moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect Thursday morning, the hurricane center said. Alvin was expected to strengthen late Thursday, then weaken late Friday. The eastern North Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to Nov. 30. The Atlantic hurricane season begins Sunday and also stretches through the end of November, and forecasters are expecting yet another unusually busy Atlantic season. But they don't think it will be as chaotic as 2024, the third-costliest season on record as it spawned killer storms Beryl, Helene and Milton.

First tropical storm of the year could come weeks earlier than normal
First tropical storm of the year could come weeks earlier than normal

The Independent

time6 days ago

  • The Independent

First tropical storm of the year could come weeks earlier than normal

The first tropical storm of the season is expected to form later this week. Forecasters said that a tropical depression was projected to form in the eastern Pacific, around several hundred miles south of the southern coast of Mexico. 'Showers and thunderstorms are gradually becoming better organized near a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles south of the coast of southern Mexico,' the National Hurricane Center said in a Tuesday update. 'While the system currently lacks a well-defined circulation, environmental conditions are favorable for further development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form during the next day or two as the low moves generally west-northwestward at around 10 mph.' They gave the disturbance a high chance of formation over the next 48 hours to a week. If it forms, the storm may move clouds and rain toward the Gulf Coast states as early as this weekend, according to AccuWeather. It would be called Alvin. The formation would mark an early start to the eastern Pacific hurricane season. The average date for the first storm of that season is on June 10, according to NASA. Last year's first storm, known as Tropical Storm Aletta, didn't form until the Fourth of July. That marked the latest start to an eastern Pacific hurricane season in the satellite era. Hurricane Hone brought flood damage to Hawaii, knocking out the power for tens of thousands of people. The eastern pacific hurricane season began May 15 and runs through November 30. However, the average first hurricane typically only forms by June 26. Right now, the Atlantic basin is quiet, with its season starting on June 1. However, this year's Atlantic hurricane season is anticipated to be above-average, once again, with climate change fueling warm ocean waters that supercharge the cyclones. Between 14 and 18 tropical storms and seven to 10 hurricanes are projected for the eastern Pacific this year, according to AccuWeather. That's a higher number of hurricanes than the historical average. "With waters starting off cooler than historical average and likely to continue through the summer off of California, the circulation of any non-tropical storm offshore that forms could help pump moisture and generate heavy rainfall in not only New Mexico and Arizona, but perhaps Southern California and Nevada as well late in the summer season," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "It is a lot of ifs, but that is something we are looking at closely."

Four ‘worst-case scenarios' led Mexican ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge, expert reveals
Four ‘worst-case scenarios' led Mexican ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge, expert reveals

The Independent

time19-05-2025

  • The Independent

Four ‘worst-case scenarios' led Mexican ship to hit Brooklyn Bridge, expert reveals

A marine expert has revealed the four 'worst-case scenarios' which caused a Mexican naval ship to crash into Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people and injuring and 19. Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner, said the ship's height, a powerful current, strong winds and the lack of a more controlled tugboat escort all resulted in the crash on Saturday (17 May). 'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out," Mercogliano told AP. 'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.' However, Mercogliano claimed the tragedy 'could have been a lot worse' had the ship's steel rigging not been in place, which stopped the masts from falling into the water.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store