Latest news with #MexicanNavy
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Search for missing girl, 15, feared drowned in East River enters second day
A desperate search for a missing 15-year-old girl feared drowned in New York City's East River under the Roosevelt Island Bridge entered its second day Saturday. After a night of heavy rains, NYPD scuba divers were expected to go back into the waters between Queens and Roosevelt Island on Saturday and attempt to recover the girl's body, officials said. The girl was sitting on the rocks, wearing a bathing suit with a flower pattern on it, when she fell into the river, police said Saturday. The teen is believed to be from the Upper East Side, WABC Eyewitness News reported. The teen entered the East River at about 12:15 p.m. on Friday, cops said. When she didn't resurface, a friend she was with called 911. Responding officers found a bookbag near the water that they believe belongs to the teen, who has not been publicly identified. Cops have not recovered any bodies in the East River in the last 24 hours, a police spokesman said. The currents in the East River are quite strong, and may have been one of the causes why the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge earlier this month. 'Our currents and tides are very strong,' Adams said when the Cuauhtémoc crashed. 'People don't realize that people fall in the river by the Statue of Liberty and find themselves in the Bronx somewhere.'
New York Post
5 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Montel Williams recalls when the famous USS Intrepid lost steering, went ‘careening through a battle group' and had to be sailed home
From the tragedy earlier this month when a Mexican Navy ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge to the German battleship Bismarck having its rudder damaged and eventually sinking after being attacked by the British in 1941, one of the most treacherous issues a military vessel can face is losing its maneuverability. 'This is something that sends fear in the hearts and minds of any sailor,' Montel Williams told The Post. A 22-year veteran of the US Navy and Marines, the Emmy-winning television personality is no stranger to maritime disaster. Advertisement 9 A new book by Montel Williams and David Fisher looks at a little known chapter in the history of the USS Intrepid. In 1981, he was deployed as a special duty intelligence officer on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Indian Ocean when two fighter jets collided on the flight deck. A sailor was killed and an F-14 went overboard in one of the worst peacetime accidents for the time. 'It was devastating,' Williams said. Advertisement The experience helped inform his captivating new book, 'The Sailing of the Intrepid: The Incredible Wartime Voyage of the Navy's Iconic Aircraft Carrier,' co-written with David Fisher. It details a little known chapter in the long, storied history of the USS Intrepid, which launched planes during World War II, recovered NASA space capsules in the 1960s and now hosts over a million visitors each year at NYC's Pier 86. In 1944, on its maiden combat voyage, the ship was badly damaged in a Japanese torpedo strike. Eleven men died and the ship's rudder was jammed, sending it careening through what was, at that point, the largest battle group ever staged. 'It was like a ball inside of a pinball machine,' Williams said. 'It almost hit the USS Essex.' The quick-thinking captain and crew came together to hastily assemble a 3,000-square-foot sail to help maneuver the Intrepid 3,300 miles home to Pearl Harbor for repair. Advertisement 9 Williams spent more than two decades in the Navy and Marines. Courtesy of Montel Williams 'This most modern ship [for the time] had to resort to the fundamentals of seafaring,' Williams said. 'There was this incredible spirit of ingenuity … Instead of saying, 'there's nothing we can do, let's abandon ship,' they said 'We're gonna save this ship.'' Here, he shares an excerpt. 9 The Intrepid was commissioned in August 1943. Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Advertisement Initially, much of the crew thought it was a bad joke. They were all concerned about the jammed rudder, but they were confident their officers would figure out some solution. Something technological, the kind of stuff the brass had been taught at Annapolis that was above their pay grade. As much as possible, they just went about doing their jobs. So when they heard a rumor that the captain wanted them to make a sail, they didn't believe it. 'What does he think we're going to do, sail this ship back to Pearl [Harbor]?' Another rumor claimed that the radar shack had been warned to keep a lookout for pirate ships appearing on the horizon. Slowly, the word spread that this sailmaking wasn't a joke. The captain actually intended to raise a sail and steer the ship home with it. Most of the crew didn't understand the concept; they visualized Errol Flynn's popular 'Captain Blood,' in which the ship was propelled by numerous white sails billowing in the wind. It was impossible to imagine Intrepid flying those big sails. 9 In 1944, on its maiden combat voyage, the ship was badly damaged in a Japanese torpedo strike. National Archives It created serious anxiety. It didn't make a lot of sense. When they had moved the planes forward and flooded the stern, they sort of understood the reason: redistributing the weight changed the profile of the ship in the water. It made it lower, diminishing the impact of the wind. The captain knew what he was doing. But a sail? Until that moment, few of them had realized the situation was desperate enough to require a crazy solution. The fact they had to resort to something as wild as this … this … they didn't know how to describe it, but it meant that they had run out of proven solutions. The news shook up a lot of people. Everybody on board knew the story of Bismarck, how its jammed rudder had led directly to the British sinking her. Somewhere, deep in their minds, they identified with Bismarck's crew. They would do whatever it took to avoid that fate. Advertisement 9 Eleven men were killed, and the ship's rudder was jammed, sending it careening through the battle group. National Archives, courtesy ResearcherAtLarge *** The crew created an assembly line. Pickers handed sheets of canvas to the cutters, who gave them to the feeders — two men facing each other across the worktable — who fed them to Petty Officer Gordon Keith. Dozens of individual sheets of canvas had to be sewed together to form strips several feet wide and almost 30 feet long. Then those strips would be sewed together lengthwise, sort of like sewing the stripes in an American flag. The shop had not been designed to make anything near this size, so they had to figure it out and make the necessary adjustments as the work progressed. For example, two men sat cross-legged under the table to hold up the folded cloth and keep it moving so Keith could continue sewing. Two other sailors, the pullers, stood on the other side of the machine, pulling the now bound pieces until they were free of the table and letting the cloth fold naturally into a pile. The rhythmic pounding of the machine briefly lulled Keith into the warmth of nostalgia. While his industrial machine made a deeper, more defined thumping sound than the faster, lighter pat-pat-patter of his mother's home model, for a few brief seconds, it brought him back to those late afternoons when he sat under the vibrating wooden sewing table while his mother made necessary repairs and alterations. Advertisement They worked through the night. The shop grew hot and uncomfortable. The fans helped a bit, but more people were crammed into the compartment than had ever been intended. Several men had taken off their shirts, and beads of sweat rolled down their backs. The sewing wasn't difficult. Singer made a quality machine. 9 Captain Sprague was determined to find a way to save the ship. Collection of the Intrepid Museum. 1943-1945 USS Intrepid Cruise Book. There was little conversation in the workshop beyond 'Do you really think this thing is going to work?' That was the question for which there was no answer. Keith was noncommittal. 'Well, the Captain thinks so and he knows a lot more about this stuff than I do. Let's just get it done, then we'll see.' 'Tell you one thing,' one of the cutters said. 'This is gonna make a helluva story one day.' He added with typical doomsday humor, 'Assuming we make it, that is.' Advertisement **** The sail slowly took shape, although no one in Keith's crew could accurately describe its shape: sort of like a rectangle but not exactly. Or, think of a big square, then forget that because it definitely was not square. They finished just as the sun was rising. No one knew precisely how big it was, but in his official reports, First Captain Thomas Sprague reported it was 3,000 square feet. That was a guess. It was far too large to spread out in the compartment to measure. They couldn't even estimate how much it weighed. Maybe 400 pounds? 500? It easily could have been more. But it was big, bulky, and heavy. 9 A hastily rigged sail helped maneuver the boat to Pearl Harbor for repair. Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Advertisement There was a brief discussion about naming it; there was a Navy tradition of assigning nicknames to equipment. The inflatable life vest, for example, was widely known as a Mae West in tribute to that movie star's legendary figure. A couple of Keith's crew suggested the sail be referred to as the Rita to honor pinup star Rita Hayworth's impressive measurements. But beyond a few salacious snickers, it just didn't catch on. It was 'the sail,' 'the thing,' or on occasion, 'Sprague's sail.' Getting it to the fo'c'sle through the narrow passageways, numerous hatches, and up ladders proved to be considerably more of a challenge than anyone had anticipated. As tired as they were, each of them hoisted a section and began carrying it through the ship. They had to carry it, push it, drag it, pull it. All along the route, men popped out of compartments to get a look at it or give some assistance. Frank Johnson later compared it to the Chinese New Year parade he had seen in San Francisco, in which dozens of men inside a dragon costume weaved through the narrow streets of Chinatown. 9 'This most modern ship [for the time] had to resort to the fundamentals of seafaring,' Williams said. 'There was this incredible spirit of ingenuity … Instead of saying, 'there's nothing we can do, let's abandon ship,' they said 'We're gonna save this ship.'' U.S. Navy/ Public Domain A swarm of carpenters was already at work when they finally got there. Montfort had solved the issue of the open space on the starboard side in typical ConEd fashion: if you can't fix it, board it up. He wouldn't even estimate how many doors and windows in aging buildings he had ordered sealed until potentially dangerous violations could be corrected. The same solution would work in this relatively small space. Board it up. Put up a wind barrier. Carpenters were busy erecting a wooden wall; three lengths of timber stretched horizontally across the opening were holding plywood sheets in place. Sprague and Commander Richard K. Gaines were waiting in the forecastle with more men to hang it, most of them wearing foul weather gear. None of them had had any idea what the finished sail would look like, but they were disappointed. 'That's it?' one of them said. 'Wow.' 9 Today, more than a million people visit the Intrepid at NYC's Pier 86 each year. Chad Rachman/New York Post They looked to Sprague for guidance. He was doing his best to convey confidence, but the reality of the pile of canvas in front of him made that difficult. 'Great job, men,' he told Keith's crew with as much enthusiasm as he could generate, then went down the line, shaking each man's hand. Finally, he turned to his crew and said the historic words he had never heard said in his career: 'Okay, men. Let's hoist the sail.' Adapted from The Sailing of the Intrepid by Montel Williams and David Fisher. Copyright © 2025 by Montel Williams and David Fisher. Published by arrangement with Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
One dead and two injured after sewage boat explodes on river
The fatal explosion occured just a week after a Mexican Navy vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and injuring nearly twenty others One man has died after an explosion on a boat carrying raw sewage that was docked on the Hudson River in New York City on Saturday morning, authorities said. The tragic explosion just off Henry Hudson Parkway near 138th Street, resulted in one fatality and left two others with injuries. The incident unfolded around 10:30am on Saturday aboard the New York City-owned motor vessel "Hunts Point", city Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms said at a news conference. The men on the boat were doing work involving a flame or sparks when the explosion occurred, the U.S. Coast Guard said on social media. On arrival, FDNY crews were met with the aftermath of a substantial blast in the ship's hull. The boat takes raw sewage to be treated, Simms said. The explosion happened near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. First responders answering a 911 call found a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river, and he was declared dead at the scene, New York police said. His name has not been released, but the New York City Department of Environmental Protection said the man had worked for the agency for 33 years. DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala described the man in a statement as "a valued and experienced member' of the agency. The blast spread raw sewage over the deck of the boat, and firefighters and other first responders had to be decontaminated, Simms said. DEP said there did not appear to be any environmental impacts following the explosion, reports the Mirror US. The barge, operated by the Department of Environmental Protection, was transferring untreated sewage to a treatment establishment when the explosion happened. Hazardous material units were called in to cleanse the craft, assess methane gas levels, and manage sludge and oil spills in the river. Despite the horrific circumstances, Mayor Eric Adams announced that no criminal activity was suspected, and that the facility remained unaffected by the event. "This devoted public servant gave 33 years of service to New York City, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time," Adams remarked about the employee who passed away. He further noted: "We are committed to fully supporting an investigation and ensuring that every possible measure is taken to prevent such tragedies in the future." The Bureau of Fire Investigation is on the case to find out what caused the explosion. The U.S. Coast Guard for NYC and the Tri-State area hinted on social media that the blast was "reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat. The deadly explosion happened just one week after a Mexican Navy vessel smashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, causing the deaths of two sailors and injuring close to twenty other people.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ship happens: Man awakes to find 443-foot cargo vessel ran aground in his backyard
When Johan Helberg said he wanted a waterfront view, he didn't expect the waterfront to come to him complete with a 443-foot cargo ship. Helberg awoke on Thursday to discover the massive bow of the NCL Salten resting a stone's throw from his home in Byneset, Norway, near Trondheim. The vessel had run aground in the early hours, narrowly missing Helberg's house by approximately 16 feet. No Distress Calls Made From Mexican Navy Tall Ship That Crashed Into Brooklyn Bridge, Mexico Navy Chief Says Remarkably, Helberg said he slept through the entire incident. He was only alerted to his unexpected visitor when a concerned neighbor rang his doorbell. "I went to the window and was quite astonished to see a big ship," Helberg told The Guardian newspaper. "I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal." Read On The Fox News App Authorities have determined that the ship's watch officer, a Ukrainian national in his 30s, fell asleep while on duty, leading to the vessel veering off course. At Least 2 Dead After Mexican Navy Sailing Ship Collides With Brooklyn Bridge In Dramatic Nyc Crash The officer has been charged with negligent navigation. No injuries or oil spills were reported, but the incident did cause minor damage to a heating pump's wire on Helberg's property. And this isn't NCL Salten's first grounding. The ship previously ran aground in 2023, but managed to free itself without assistance. Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide on Thursday were unsuccessful. The Norwegian Coastal Administration is conducting geotechnical assessments before making another attempt. Shipping company NCL has stated it is cooperating with the investigation. As for Helberg, he remains in good spirits despite the unexpected intrusion. "It's a very bulky new neighbor, but it will soon go away," he quipped. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Ship happens: Man awakes to find 443-foot cargo vessel ran aground in his backyard
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vigil held for fallen sailors aboard Mexican Navy ship that crashed into Brooklyn Bridge
Some 200 people gathered Wednesday night at a heartbreaking vigil for the young sailors who died or were injured on the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc after its crash into the Brooklyn Bridge. The solemn crowd — including Mexico and New York City officials, including Mayor Adams — gathered in the pouring rain at the iconic bridge to honor those lost in the crash. A Mariachi band sang Mexican folk songs, and portraits of America Yamilet Sanchez, 20, and Adal Jair Marcos, 23, were plastered on metal barricades along with the U.S. and Mexican flags. 'I understand the circle of life. But when I look at the faces of these young people, these young people who lost their lives in the military service that's important to their country, I don't have the logic,' Mayor Adams said. 'I don't have the words, but all I do know in moments like this, you trust God.' As Adams arrived at the vigil, he bowed his head in front of each of the fallen sailor's portraits, then placed a bundle of white flowers in front of each portrait. 'These are moments when you realize how precious life is and I'm here today because the people of Mexico that live in this city have showed us how much you love your home country, and you love your adopted country, America,' Adams said. The bodies of Sanchez, 20, and Jair Marcos, 23, have been repatriated to Mexico, where a vigil for Sanchez was held. 'We are grieving with the world and our brothers in Mexico,' said Bronx native Fabian Aguilar, 56, a dancer with Ballet Folklorico Mexicano of New York, who attended the vigil. 'We are very sad over this tragedy. We stand in the rain and mourn because we are all brothers.' Madelin Martinez, 16, of Brooklyn said the vigil was 'really touching.' 'It came out of the blue, they were gone in minutes,' Martinez said. 'They were too young to die and they were not with their families. It was so important that they were here. With everything going on and (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), they represented our culture and now they are gone.' According to the FDNY, at least 19 of those aboard were treated for injuries, with 11 initially listed in critical condition. Most of the crew that was aboard Cuauhtémoc — including some who were initially treated for injuries — were announced on Wednesday to be safely back in Mexico, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Following an interagency meeting, discussions were held by the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, the ship's contractors and City Hall representatives focusing on the repair efforts on the ship, the crew's welfare and tow logistics, according to city Office of Emergency Management spokesman Aries Dela Cruz. 'USCG continues to support the vessel and crew of the ARM Cuauhtémoc. The US Navy is coordinating shoreside housing while repairs proceed. All injured crew have been discharged from the hospital and are now safely back in Mexico,' Dela Cruz said. 'Final plans for repairing the impacted masts are being prepared for submission to the Coast Guard. A tow plan for the vessel is also in development for USCG review. An underwater hull survey is anticipated for Saturday.' Repairs are currently underway on the ship as officials wrapped up their damage assessment on Tuesday with marine surveyors and contractors accessing the vessel. The Cuauhtémoc hasn't sustained any damage to the hull, which would allow it to be moved from Pier 37, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, with tugboat assistance. The NTSB is also checking if there are any data recorders holding pivotal evidence of how the crash occurred. The training ship is expected to be towed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where it will be dry-docked as the investigation continues, OEM officials said Tuesday. With wind and rain halting the process of towing the ship, The Cuauhtémoc is expected to move to a dry dock facility by Sunday. The two fatalities occurred when the ship's masts crashed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night. Multiple crew members aloft in the masts were left dangling in the air by their safety harnesses after the East River crash, but no one ended up in the water.
