Latest news with #TheCuauhtemoc
Sydney Morning Herald
19-05-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Turbulent waters may have played role in Brooklyn Bridge tall ship crash
There are also questions about whether a tugboat escort peeled away too soon from the ship, and should have been rigged to the ship or stayed with it until it headed out to sea. Similar tugboat concerns emerged when a large cargo vessel crashed into a bridge in Baltimore last year. Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner who has powered multiple ships through the New York harbour, said all those 'worst-case scenarios' – the ship's height, a strong current, heavy wind and the absence of a more controlled tugboat escort – all contributed to the tragedy. 'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out. That would've been the ideal time,' Mercogliano, who writes a widely followed shipping blog, said. 'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.' Still, he said an even deadlier catastrophe was avoided by the ship's steel rigging, which prevented the masts from falling into the water, as well as the fact that the crew stayed harnessed in position rather than taking the risk that some members could tumble from a 12-storey height as they scrambled down the rat lines. 'You could have had guys strapped in, drowning in the river,' he said. 'This could have been a lot worse.' The family of 20-year-old cadet America Yamilet Sanchez were told she had died after falling from the mast, Sanchez's aunt Maria del Rosario Hernandez Jacome said. Sanchez, who was studying engineering at the Mexican naval academy, had spoken with her mother only hours before the planned departure, her aunt said, excitedly telling her about the ship's next destination – Iceland. Her parents travelled to Mexico City on Sunday to arrange for the return of their daughter's body. Relatives and friends arrived at the family's home in Xalapa, Veracruz, carrying flowers on Sunday. A small altar was set up on the patio with a photograph of Sánchez and candles. The second victim was 23-year-old sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, according to the mayor of his hometown, San Mateo del Mar, in Oaxaca. Loading Ship was on a goodwill tour The Cuauhtemoc visited New York as part of a 15-nation global goodwill tour and was departing when it struck the bridge about 8.20pm, briefly halting traffic atop the span. Mayor Eric Adams said the 142-year-old bridge escaped major damage, but at least 19 of the 277 sailors aboard the ship needed medical treatment. The Cuauhtemoc sailed for the first time in 1982. It is almost 90 metres long and its main mast has a height of 50 metres, about nine metres higher than the span of the Brooklyn Bridge. On Saturday evening, the vessel, which arrived in New York on May 13, backed out from the tourist-heavy South Street Seaport, where it had been docked for several days welcoming visitors. It's unknown if the Mexican captain requested a dock pilot to assist with the unmooring, but a harbour pilot was on board to sail it through the harbour, as required. Tracking data from Marine Traffic and eyewitness videos show that an 1800-horsepower tugboat, the Charles D. McAllister, gently nudged the vessel as it backed astern into the channel but dropped off before the vessel turned. Seconds later, as the ship continued drifting in the wrong direction, the tugboat tried to overtake the vessel but arrived too late to wedge itself between the fast-moving ship and the Brooklyn riverbank. McAllister Towing told The New York Times that one of its vessels assisted the Cuauhtémoc as it departed Pier 17, and after the ship hit the bridge, the company's crew provided extra help and notified the authorities. 'While the cause of the incident is still under investigation, McAllister Towing is fully co-operating with the relevant authorities and will continue to support the review process as needed,' a statement said. After last year's crash in Baltimore, Mercogliano said, port authorities there had tightened rules to require a tug escort and slower speeds for vessels sailing through the harbour entrance past the partially collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship in that crash, the MV Dali, was a 95,000-tonne container ship about 50 times heavier than the Cuauhtemoc. Some vessels avoid harbour because of low bridges Accidents in New York harbour are rare because large cargo ships and modern warships generally avoid the area due to the low height of the bridges. But in July 2026, the harbour is expected to play host to the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Mercogliano said investigators would evaluate whether the Mexican crew performed the recommended safety checks before their departure. Typically, that involves testing the engine's propellers, rudder and propulsion six to 12 hours in advance to make sure everything is working properly. 'It's not like your car where you're just throwing your shifter,' he said. On Sunday, the damaged ship was moored at Pier 35 in lower Manhattan. A stream of people, including those who appeared to be investigators and crew, could be seen getting on and off. The Coast Guard said damage to the Cuauhtémoc was being assessed. The Coast Guard established a 46-metre safety zone around the ship as the investigation by both the US and Mexican governments got under way.
The Age
19-05-2025
- General
- The Age
Turbulent waters may have played role in Brooklyn Bridge tall ship crash
There are also questions about whether a tugboat escort peeled away too soon from the ship, and should have been rigged to the ship or stayed with it until it headed out to sea. Similar tugboat concerns emerged when a large cargo vessel crashed into a bridge in Baltimore last year. Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner who has powered multiple ships through the New York harbour, said all those 'worst-case scenarios' – the ship's height, a strong current, heavy wind and the absence of a more controlled tugboat escort – all contributed to the tragedy. 'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out. That would've been the ideal time,' Mercogliano, who writes a widely followed shipping blog, said. 'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.' Still, he said an even deadlier catastrophe was avoided by the ship's steel rigging, which prevented the masts from falling into the water, as well as the fact that the crew stayed harnessed in position rather than taking the risk that some members could tumble from a 12-storey height as they scrambled down the rat lines. 'You could have had guys strapped in, drowning in the river,' he said. 'This could have been a lot worse.' The family of 20-year-old cadet America Yamilet Sanchez were told she had died after falling from the mast, Sanchez's aunt Maria del Rosario Hernandez Jacome said. Sanchez, who was studying engineering at the Mexican naval academy, had spoken with her mother only hours before the planned departure, her aunt said, excitedly telling her about the ship's next destination – Iceland. Her parents travelled to Mexico City on Sunday to arrange for the return of their daughter's body. Relatives and friends arrived at the family's home in Xalapa, Veracruz, carrying flowers on Sunday. A small altar was set up on the patio with a photograph of Sánchez and candles. The second victim was 23-year-old sailor Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, according to the mayor of his hometown, San Mateo del Mar, in Oaxaca. Loading Ship was on a goodwill tour The Cuauhtemoc visited New York as part of a 15-nation global goodwill tour and was departing when it struck the bridge about 8.20pm, briefly halting traffic atop the span. Mayor Eric Adams said the 142-year-old bridge escaped major damage, but at least 19 of the 277 sailors aboard the ship needed medical treatment. The Cuauhtemoc sailed for the first time in 1982. It is almost 90 metres long and its main mast has a height of 50 metres, about nine metres higher than the span of the Brooklyn Bridge. On Saturday evening, the vessel, which arrived in New York on May 13, backed out from the tourist-heavy South Street Seaport, where it had been docked for several days welcoming visitors. It's unknown if the Mexican captain requested a dock pilot to assist with the unmooring, but a harbour pilot was on board to sail it through the harbour, as required. Tracking data from Marine Traffic and eyewitness videos show that an 1800-horsepower tugboat, the Charles D. McAllister, gently nudged the vessel as it backed astern into the channel but dropped off before the vessel turned. Seconds later, as the ship continued drifting in the wrong direction, the tugboat tried to overtake the vessel but arrived too late to wedge itself between the fast-moving ship and the Brooklyn riverbank. McAllister Towing told The New York Times that one of its vessels assisted the Cuauhtémoc as it departed Pier 17, and after the ship hit the bridge, the company's crew provided extra help and notified the authorities. 'While the cause of the incident is still under investigation, McAllister Towing is fully co-operating with the relevant authorities and will continue to support the review process as needed,' a statement said. After last year's crash in Baltimore, Mercogliano said, port authorities there had tightened rules to require a tug escort and slower speeds for vessels sailing through the harbour entrance past the partially collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship in that crash, the MV Dali, was a 95,000-tonne container ship about 50 times heavier than the Cuauhtemoc. Some vessels avoid harbour because of low bridges Accidents in New York harbour are rare because large cargo ships and modern warships generally avoid the area due to the low height of the bridges. But in July 2026, the harbour is expected to play host to the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Mercogliano said investigators would evaluate whether the Mexican crew performed the recommended safety checks before their departure. Typically, that involves testing the engine's propellers, rudder and propulsion six to 12 hours in advance to make sure everything is working properly. 'It's not like your car where you're just throwing your shifter,' he said. On Sunday, the damaged ship was moored at Pier 35 in lower Manhattan. A stream of people, including those who appeared to be investigators and crew, could be seen getting on and off. The Coast Guard said damage to the Cuauhtémoc was being assessed. The Coast Guard established a 46-metre safety zone around the ship as the investigation by both the US and Mexican governments got under way.
Epoch Times
18-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Federal Officials Start Investigation Into Mexican Tall Ship That Hit Brooklyn Bridge
Federal officials confirmed Sunday they are sending a team to investigate the Mexican Navy tall ship crash at the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, which left at least two dead. In a statement, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) The Cuauhtemoc was visiting New York on a global goodwill tour when the accident occurred on Saturday evening. Video footage of the incident showed that the ship was moving steadily toward the bridge before all three of its masts hit it and snapped as the vessel continued to move forward with no signs of slowing. New York City Mayor Eric Adams In a later update, Adams Videos showed significant traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge at the time of the 8:20 p.m. ET collision. No one on the bridge was hurt, officials said. Related Stories 5/17/2025 5/14/2025 After the collision, the ship, which was flying a large Mexican flag and had 277 people on board, drifted into a pier on the East River, video footage shows. Onlookers were also seen scurrying away as the ship approached the pier. The Mexican navy said in a post on social media platform X that the Cuauhtemoc was a training vessel. It said a total of 22 people were injured and 'The status of personnel and equipment is being reviewed by naval and local authorities, who are providing support,' the post said, according to a translation. 'The Navy reaffirms its commitment to personnel safety, transparency in its operations, and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Navy.' Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum lamented the loss of the two crew members. 'Our solidarity and support go out to their families,' she According to a translation of her post, the Mexican Navy, along with local authorities, are 'currently treating the wounded. The Mexican ambassador to the United States and staff from the Mexican Consulate General in New York are supporting the Navy.' The New York City Fire Department said that it was alerted of the crash on Saturday evening, the department said in a The vessel, which was launched in 1982, has a steel hull around 295 feet in length and three masts with a height of 158 feet, The Cuauhtemoc was docked at the New York City Seaport Museum between May 13 and May 17, The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Business Standard
18-05-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Video: Mexican navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, 2 dead
A Mexican navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday evening (local time), killing two people and injuring 17. The Cuauhtemoc, a 297-foot-long tall ship, was sailing along the East River as part of a scheduled goodwill tour when it struck the underside of the historic bridge, tearing down its towering masts. Eyewitness footage showed the vessel's three masts crashing into the bridge's lower deck, sending sailors hanging from broken rigging. '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,' Lily Katz, an eyewitness, told the Associated Press. New York Mayor Eric Adams confirmed 19 injuries, including four people in critical condition. He later informed that two out of the four critically injured had died. Why did the collision occur? The New York Police Department (NYPD) said the Cuauhtemoc appeared to lose power while attempting to pass under the bridge. The ship's masts, each about 147 feet tall, struck the bridge's 135-foot clearance, shearing off sections that fell onto the bridge as traffic scattered. Video clips show the ship drifting toward the riverbank as responders rushed in. A full investigation into the cause is underway. Historic vessel immobilised mid-tour The Cuauhtemoc, a 42-year-old training ship operated by the Mexican navy, was midway through a 254-day voyage to 22 ports across 15 countries. It had departed from Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people aboard, most of them naval cadets. The navy confirmed via social media that damage to the masts had halted the mission. Officials are now assessing the ship's status and the condition of its crew. The Mexican consulate in New York said it is coordinating with local authorities to assist the injured and stranded cadets. Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that its ambassador to the United States is also engaged in relief efforts. Brooklyn Bridge reopens The Brooklyn Bridge, a historic structure that opened in 1883, did not suffer major structural harm. It was temporarily shut to traffic for inspections but has since reopened. City officials advised commuters to expect delays near New Dock Street and Water Street in Brooklyn as investigations continue.
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Business Standard
18-05-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Video: Mexican navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, injures 19 people
A Mexican navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday evening (local time), injuring 19 people and tearing down its towering masts. The Cuauhtemoc, a 297-foot-long tall ship, was sailing along the East River as part of a scheduled goodwill tour when it struck the underside of the historic bridge. Eyewitness footage showed the vessel's three masts crashing into the bridge's lower deck, sending sailors hanging from broken rigging. '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,' Lily Katz, an eyewitness, told the Associated Press. New York Mayor Eric Adams confirmed 19 injuries, including four people in critical condition. Emergency teams transported the injured to Brooklyn Navy Yard and nearby hospitals for treatment. Why did the collision occur? The New York Police Department (NYPD) said the Cuauhtemoc appeared to lose power while attempting to pass under the bridge. The ship's masts, each about 147 feet tall, struck the bridge's 135-foot clearance, shearing off sections that fell onto the bridge as traffic scattered. Video clips show the ship drifting toward the riverbank as responders rushed in. A full investigation into the cause is underway. Historic vessel immobilised mid-tour The Cuauhtemoc, a 42-year-old training ship operated by the Mexican navy, was midway through a 254-day voyage to 22 ports across 15 countries. It had departed from Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people aboard, most of them naval cadets. The navy confirmed via social media that damage to the masts had halted the mission. Officials are now assessing the ship's status and the condition of its crew. The Mexican consulate in New York said it is coordinating with local authorities to assist the injured and stranded cadets. Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that its ambassador to the United States is also engaged in relief efforts. Brooklyn Bridge reopens
