Latest news with #NavyShip
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Hegseth moves to rename Navy ship honoring gay rights icon Harvey Milk
The Pentagon is making plans to strip the name from a Navy ship that honors the gay rights icon Harvey Milk, defense officials said Tuesday, the latest move by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to impose the Trump administration's will on America's culture wars. Deliberations are ongoing after a recent order by Hegseth to Navy Secretary John Phelan, with the decision to be announced as soon as mid-June, the officials said. It is possible other vessels honoring prominent U.S. civil rights figures also could be renamed, these people said on the condition of anonymity, citing the issue's sensitivity.
Fox News
19-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Brooklyn Bridge sustains no structural damage after fatal Mexican navy ship crash
Officials said Monday that an inspection of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City determined the load-bearing elements of the structure did not sustain any significant damage when a Mexican navy sailing ship crashed into the landmark on Saturday night, killing two people on board. The New York City Department of Transportation announced the discovery in a post on X just before the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) held a press conference regarding its investigation into the tragic incident. "This morning, Commissioner Rodriguez surveyed the Brooklyn Bridge following the weekend bridge strike," the city agency said. "While inspections are ongoing, there are no signs of structural damage to the bridge." NTSB officials told reporters that its bridge team from the Office of Highway Safety is working with NYC DOT and confirmed the lack of structural damage to the bridge. "They have affirmed at this point that there is no significant structural damage to the load-bearing elements of the bridge," NTSB Board Member Michael Graham said. "There is some damage on one of the travelers, which they use to access and survey the bridge at this point. But nothing structural from the bridge… is an issue at this plan." NTSB Investigator Brian Young told reporters that, based on preliminary navigational data, the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc arrived in New York City on May 13 at about noon and docked port side at pier 17. The vessel remained docked for about four days, before pushing away from the dock at about 8:20 p.m. on May 17, with the assistance of a tugboat. "The intent was to sail south down the East River and head for sea," Young said. The preliminary investigation looked at weather data, which showed westerly winds of about 10 knots, along with a current running toward the bridge at about 0.3 knots. The vessel's speed increased to about 6 knots, and at 8:24, a VHF radio broadcast was sounded requesting assistance from other tugboats in the area of the Brooklyn Bridge, he continued. "That was followed by two other requests for assistance, and at 8:24:45, the vessel's mast struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge," Young said. "At 8:27, the vessel came to a stop, and at 8:30, both NYPD and FDNY assets were on the scene." The members of the NTSB arrived in New York City on Sunday, and Monday was the first day crews were able to start investigating the incident. Graham said the team is there to gather perishable evidence, which will take as many days as needed. He also said this was the start of a long process, telling reporters that investigations can take between 12 and 24 months. Within 30 days, Graham and his team will provide a preliminary report, but throughout the process, he stressed, the team will not draw conclusions, speculate, or determine probable cause while on the scene. The investigation will involve looking at the crew and the operation of the crew, the vessel and its condition, and nautical elements like weather, wind and tide. On Monday morning, various teams were set up by the NTSB to look into nautical operations, marine engineering, bridge engineering, survival factors and recorders. Young told reporters that the team did not know whether the ship had a recorder, like a black box, on board. "Our recorders group, once getting aboard the vessel, will make a full assessment of any recording devices, and we will capture that information and retrieve it," he said. One reporter asked Graham and Young about preliminary information released by the NYPD, suggesting there was a power outage that may have led to the ship's collision with the bridge. "We don't know where they got that data from," Graham said. "Brian has told us already we haven't even had a chance to access the engine, so, we don't know that. We haven't had a chance to look to see if there's any recorded data or anything like that. So, we're not sure where they got that from, but that will be part of the investigation, too. If somebody has information like that, where did they get it from? We don't know at this point." NTSB investigators will speak with witnesses, crew members, tugboat operators and others to help get a full picture of what caused the ship to crash on Saturday night. They will also look for surveillance cameras in the area to help piece together the puzzle. Still, Graham reiterated that all information provided to reporters during the press conference was preliminary and subject to change throughout the investigation. He encouraged anyone with video of the incident on their phones to reach out to witness@ to notify investigators of the video. The NTSB will then provide a link where the video can be uploaded.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
Probe of crash of Mexican tall ship into Brooklyn Bridge centers on engine
NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - The investigation into why a Mexican Navy training ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, shearing the top of its masts, will look into a possible engine failure and the role of a tug boat that assisted it in backing out of its pier, officials said on Monday. The ship's engine was the key focus for the National Transportation Safety Board, said Brian Young, who is leading the agency's investigation. "We will look at the status of the engine, we will look for any failures, we will look for engine inspections and we'll talk to the crew on what may have possibly happened with the engine," Young said at a preliminary NTSB briefing. He said investigators would also look for any electronic control data. The accident occurred when the majestic white training vessel Cuauhtémoc was departing from lower Manhattan's Pier 17 on the East River shortly after sunset on Saturday. The ship's planned route was southward, away from the Brooklyn Bridge and toward New York Harbor and her next destination in Iceland. As it backed out of the pier, the ship was accompanied by a tug boat operated by McAllister Towing. As it cleared the dock, the ship pivoted but continued to move swiftly in reverse in the direction of the bridge. Minutes later, its three 147-foot (44.8-meter) masts hit the underside of the iconic 142-year-old bridge, causing them to partially collapse. The strike knocked dozens of white-uniformed naval cadets off the ship's crossbeams, where they were standing ceremoniously for her exit from the harbor. They could be seen dangling from their harnesses high above the ship's deck. Two people aboard the ship - a cadet and a sailor - were killed, and around 20 were injured, two of them critically. Salvatore R. Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University, said it appeared that an engine malfunction caused the accident. "Without the engine failure, the ship would have maybe drifted into the bridge, but it wouldn't have hit it at speed," Mercogliano said. "The engine failure drove the ship into the bridge. And it's not exactly clear what role the tug could have done to prevent that from happening." Videos posted online showed the tug first pushing the bow of the ship, then separating from it as the vessel moved closer to the bridge. It then appeared to rush toward the stern as if it intended to stop the ship from striking the bridge. After the masts collapsed, the ship kept sailing under the bridge until it was stopped at an embankment on the Brooklyn side of the river, videos showed. NTSB board member Michael Graham said the board had not yet conducted any interviews and intended to talk with the tug boat pilot, harbor pilot, ship captain and other crew members. "We will be looking into three main areas... the crew and the operation of the crew, the vessel and the condition of the vessel, and finally, the environment, and that includes the weather, the wind, the current, the tide and the operating environment," Graham said. Investigators are asking the public for additional video of the incident and have yet to determine if the Mexican naval vessel had a data recorder.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Cause of Brooklyn Bridge ship crash revealed by cops after two Mexico Navy sailors died
The Mexican Navy ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge likely suffered a 'mechanical issue' before losing power, according to police. The massive 160-foot-high Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, carrying a crew of 277, smashed into the iconic New York City bridge around 9pm Saturday. Two unidentified passengers were killed after falling from the masts to the ship's deck, sources told CNN. A total of 22 crew members have been reported injured as of Sunday morning, with at least 11 in critical condition, Mexican Navy officials said. After the tragic incident, Chief Wilson Aramboles with the NYPD Special Operations Bureau said 'some mechanical issues' most likely caused the ship to hit the bridge. 'The captain that was maneuvering the ship lost, I guess, power of the ship,' Aramboles told reporters, while advising that the information was preliminary. A graphic posted to X appeared to show the massive ship losing power and stalling in the water just before reaching the bridge. The records show the ship undocking at Seaport in Lower Manhattan around 8.20pm alongside alongside a tugboat. It was then seen rapidly losing control as it started to move backward toward the Brooklyn Brooklyn bridge. The vessel was then seen drifting toward the Manhattan Bridge before it was saved by NYPD and FDNY boats. A transportation expert told the outlet the ship's voyage data recorder will provide important information about what went wrong just before the crash. The recorder is expected to reveal information about the ship's mechanics and when power may have been lost. It will also likely provide investigators with crucial details on its 'control input,' Mary Schiavo, CNN transportation analyst and former US Department of Transportation inspector general, said. Early Sunday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum sent her condolences to the loved ones of the two deceased crew members. '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. Our sympathy and support go out to their families,' she wrote on X. She confirmed that the Navy and local authorities are 'currently treating the wounded' and that the Mexican ambassador, the U.S. and the Mexican Consulate General in New York are also supporting the Navy. '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,' Sheinbaum added. In multiple eyewitness videos, the towering masts were seen snapping and partially collapsing as they crashed into the bridge's deck. Sailors perched high above are thrown into chaos, with some seen clinging to the shattered beams high up in the air. Nick Corso, who had just taken his phone out to take a picture of the ship and bridge during the sunset, told the Associated Press he suddenly heard what he described as the snapping of a 'big twig' when the ship hit the 141-year-old bridge. Other bystanders told the outlet they were also admiring the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap. Looking closer, they said they noticed someone hanging from high on the ship. 'We saw someone dangling, and I couldn't tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,' Katz said. They reported seeing two people taken off the ship on stretchers and transferred to smaller boats. The Navy personnel had been standing on the masts of the Mexican Navy ship as part of a ceremonial greeting and show of respect upon entering a port. This tradition, known as 'manning the yards,' is a longstanding maritime custom practiced worldwide. The sailors aboard the Cuauhtémoc appeared to have been engaged in this time-honored ritual during the harrowing crash. The Mexican navy said in a post on the social platform X that the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel, was damaged in an accident with the Brooklyn Bridge that prevented it from continuing its voyage. Emotional footage showed the moment hundreds of New Yorkers applauded for first responders as they rescued victims from the vessel. FDNY, NYPD, and the US Coast Guard coordinated a rapid search and rescue operation, deploying divers and emergency boats to evacuate the injured from the ship crash. The FDNY and NYPD Harbor Unit worked together to secure the area and ensure the safety of everyone aboard the stricken ship. The ship was built in 1982 and was in the Big Apple as part of a promotional for year's celebration of America's 250th birthday - also known as the Sail4th 250 ship event. New York City was the vessel's third stop in its eight-month journey around the world, as Mexican sailors also got to visit Portugal, Iceland, Jamaica, and Germany, among other locations, according to an April press release.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Watch moment Mexican Navy training ship hits Brooklyn Bridge
At least two people were killed and more than a dozen injured after a Mexican Navy sailing ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, according to the New York City Major Eric Adams.
