Latest news with #maritimeaccident
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Climate
- 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.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
What we know about the Mexican Navy training ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge, killing at least 2
Just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, several onlookers in Brooklyn were enjoying one of New York City's sunnier days, when they witnessed a Mexican Navy training ship hit the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in two fatalities and injuries to over a dozen people. 'We could see some people being kind of dragged,' an eyewitness, Flavio Moreira, told CNN. 'I believe it was some of the staff, they were on the top of the boat. And they were swinging around, back and forth as soon as the ship hit the bridge.' The allision of the Cuauhtémoc, the Mexican Navy training ship, with the Brooklyn Bridge comes just 16 months after a massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. The Singaporean-flagged container vessel, named Dali, lost power—just like the Cuauhtémoc—and veered off course, smashing into the bridge and killing six construction workers. Mayor Eric Adams said he was praying for all 277 passengers who were on board, their families, and he thanked the first responders who sprang into action to prevent further damage. Here's what we know: The ship had just departed New York's Pier 17 when the incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. The boat had previously been docked at the South Street Seaport Museum for five days of public viewing. It was on a global goodwill tour and en route to Iceland at the time of the incident Saturday night, officials said. Authorities began responding to the area around 8:26 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls, a New York City Police Department spokesperson said. At least two of those injured were listed as critical according to Adams. The Mexican Navy said earlier a total of 22 people were injured, 19 of whom were taken to hospitals. A preliminary investigation by several authorities including the NYPD's Special Operations Division, the Fire Department of New York, the US Coast Guard, and the New York City Department of Transportation determined that the boat, 'experienced a mechanical malfunction,' the NYPD said. The boat was also moving in the 'wrong direction,' a senior city official with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. As it made its way out of the harbor, the ship was supposed to make a stop at a Bay Ridge fueling dock before heading out to sea on its way to Iceland, the official said. 'It was the current that took it under the bridge,' the person said. 'It wasn't supposed to be headed in that direction.' According to the senior official, Cuauhtémoc's captain has told investigators he lost steering of the vessel after the rudder stopped working. 'They had some sort of mechanical issue, they lost power so without being able to use the rudder, they could not steer,' the official said, cautioning all information is preliminary and subject to change. More than 100 fire and emergency medical service personnel responded to the scene, FDNY said in an email. There was no visible damage to the Brooklyn Bridge, which appeared to be left structurally intact and was temporarily closed in both directions for about 40 minutes after the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a 'go-team' team to New York, according to a post Sunday by the agency's X account as the agency intends to investigate. The team on the ground 'is comprised of experts in nautical operations, marine and bridge engineering and survival factors,' the agency said. The voyage data recorder will provide crucial information about what went wrong, one transportation expert told CNN. The data recorder will likely provide investigators with information about both the ship's mechanics, including any 'control input' and when power may have been lost, said Mary Schiavo, CNN transportation analyst and former US Department of Transportation inspector general. It may also provide information about the river itself, such as the water's depth and its currents. Investigators may already have that information and be in the process of reviewing it, Schiavo said. They will also need to examine whether communication was lost at any point, she added. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Sunday that investigators must determine if budget cuts and program cancellations by the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency contributed in any way to the ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge. 'I have the general sense of a DOGE dysfunction in parts of the Coast Guard,' Schumer said at a news conference on the federal budget. 'We know that there has been meddling by the Trump administration into the Coast Guard staffing, and now we need to know how this meddling might have impacted the events of last night, from a command, communication and local coordination level.' CNN has reached out to the White House for comment. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters on Sunday that a cadet and a sailor died after the incident. The governor of Veracruz state identified one of the victims as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. In a social media post, Gov. Rocío Nahle said she 'deeply' laments the passing of Sánchez, a native of Xalapa, the capital city of Veracruz. The local city council of San Mateo del Mar, in neighboring Oaxaca state, in southern Mexico, identified the second victim as Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos. In a Facebook post, the city council said they lamented the passing of the sailor and expressed their 'heartfelt condolences to his family and other loved ones.' Family and friends gathered at Sánchez's home in Xalapa on Sunday to honor the 21-year-old naval cadet. The incident has left her loved ones demanding answers. 'It's impossible for something so serious to not be thoroughly investigated,' Gael de la Cruz, a relative of Sánchez, told Reuters. 'What happened there is illogical. There must be someone responsible.' Sánchez's mother, Rocio Hernandez, told Reuters she is in communication with US authorities regarding the repatriation of her daughter's body. 'The US coroner already told me that yes, everything is ready … and I'm waiting for that,' she said. Mexican President Sheinbaum sent her condolences to families of the two crew members killed, saying, she was deeply saddened by the losses. 'Our sympathy and support go out to their families,' Sheinbaum said in a post on X early Sunday. Sheinbaum said the Mexican Navy is supporting those injured in the incident, and that the Mexican ambassador to the United States and Mexican Consulate General were supporting the navy. 'We are monitoring the situation, and the Secretary of the Navy will continue to provide updates,' she added. The Cuauhtémoc, known as the 'Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,' is a training sailing ship of the Mexican Navy and a diplomatic symbol of Mexico abroad. Named after the last Aztec emperor, who was executed by the Spanish conquerors in 1525, it was built in Spain in 1981 and acquired by the Mexican Navy to train cadets and officers. It regularly takes part in major regattas around the world. The sailing ship was used for training by the Heroic Naval Military School, an elite military academy in Mexico, according to a news release. The ship, as of last year, had visited 212 ports in 64 countries with 756,085 nautical miles sailed, the latter equivalent to making 35 trips around the world, the release said. It was now on its yearly training tour for the graduating class of 2025. CNN's Nouran Salahieh, Mark Morales, Lauren Mascarenhas, Mauricio Torres, Chris Boyette, Gloria Pazmino, Diego Mendoza, Zenebou Sylla, and Helen Regan contributed to this report.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mexican ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge because it lost steering during mechanical failure: sources
A Mexican tall ship slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge because it apparently lost its steering capacity thanks to mechanical failure, sources said — a tragedy eerily reminiscent of last year's Baltimore span disaster. Shocking footage captured the moment the Mexican Navy's 147-foot tall showboat the Cuauhatemoc struck the historic New York City bridge Saturday night, killing two crew members, injuring at least 17 other people — and leaving terrified crew members dangling and clinging for dear life from the rigging. 'There must have been a lot of frantic, 'Look out!' There had to be some pandemonium,' retired US Navy Capt. Alfred McLaren told The Post of the likely scene aboard ship. Sources said the 43-year-old vessel was on its way to the Brooklyn waterfront to refuel before setting sail for Iceland but had plenty of diesel when it appeared to have lost its steering ability because of a mechanical malfunction and was quickly carried into the bridge by powerful East River currents. A local harbor pilot, or mariner familiar with the East River's currents and condition, and area docking pilot, who helps navigate ships out of regional berths and docks, were involved in aiding the guiding of the vessel before the crash, well-placed sources said. At least one of the two was on board the ship at the time. With an investigation now under way to confirm what went wrong, former US Coast Guard Lt. Henry Lipian told The Post the crew could have tried to drop anchor to try to help thwart the tragedy. 'It doesn't mean an anchor's going to work,' Lipian said. 'It might slow the ship a little bit, but it might not be enough to stop it. It's no guarantee. 'You lose your engine for whatever reason, you're at the mercy of the elements.' Lipian said it was a 'worst-case scenario' for a crew made up largely of 'trainees' to lose power in a harbor such as New York's. Harrowing footage shows Mexican sailors clinging to rigging for dear life after Brooklyn Bridge crash Mexican Navy tall ship lost power before Brooklyn Bridge crash that killed 2, injured 17: NYPD Night of joy for pals of Mexican Navy ship crew turns into tragedy as vessel strikes Brooklyn Bridge: 'We were very scared' Here's why Mexican Navy tall ship that struck Brooklyn Bridge — killing at least 2 — was in NYC Mexican navy cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, ID'd as first victim in Brooklyn Bridge crash 'You only have a short distance and a relatively short period of time to react,' he said. 'If you lose power there you're in big trouble. Think about those elements. You have the wind. The wind is going to push the vessel to some extent. You're going to have the current. And the tides in the same direction as the current and whatever direction [the vessel] was traveling at before you lose power — you still have the momentum of the direction the vessel was traveling in. 'If you can't get the anchor down fast enough, it's the worst possible scenario.' The collision bore haunting similarities to the March 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Six construction workers on that bridge were killed when a massive cargo ship lost power and couldn't steer, barreling into the span, which crumpled into the bay. In that case, the ship went dark before the collision, unlike the Saturday night Brooklyn Bridge incident, during which the sailing vessel's lights continued to shine even after the crash. Saturday's tragic accident befalling a well-regarded navy such as Mexico's left McLaren stunned. ''I've never ever heard any criticism of the Mexican Navy. I'm dumbfounded,' he said. 'It's just horrible.' The ship carried 277 crew members and was largely used as a training vessel for navy cadets. Peter Himler from Flatiron Communications, which is helping to put together the planned July 4, 2026, international parade of ships in New York Harbor for America's 250th anniversary, said the Cuauhtemoc was anticipated to take part in the highly anticipated event but had not yet confirmed. The Post was aboard the ship last week for the announcement as it coasted past the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and into Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. Authorities said the two crew members who were killed were in the rigging on the masts that crumbled when it struck the bridge, while others fell or were injured by debris that rained down on the deck. Mayor Eric Adams said the injured crew were taken to Bellevue Hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment Sunday. Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Bridge's previous crashes include one involving Nazi ship
Saturday's tragic ship crash into the Brooklyn Bridge is far from the first time a boat has collided with the iconic East River crossing since it opened May 24, 1883. In February 1921, the schooner Edward J. Lawrence hit the bridge while it was being towed underneath it. As the six-masted ship was passing under the central span of the bridge, its steel mainmast struck the roadway on the north side. In October 1935, the Hamburg-American freighter the Tirpitz, an 8,000-ton vessel carrying fuel from Nazi Germany, also struck the bridge as it was heading to unload cargo in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The first three of the ship's four steel masts struck a lower steel girder of the bridge structure and were bent backwards, similar to what happened with the Mexican ship the Cuauhtémoc on Saturday. The Tirpitz's captain, Adolph Guthenks, said at the time that as its forward masts were 120 feet high, and the height of the bridge at mean high water is 135 feet, he expected the ship to easily clear the bridge. He said the tide must have been abnormally high at the time of the crash. The most recent significant crash came when the Hai Soo, a 520-foot South Korean vessel, collided with the bridge in April 1986. The ship, heading to Bridgeport, Conn., caught the bridge as it moved upriver after rounding Governors Island. Harrowing footage shows Mexican sailors clinging to rigging for dear life after Brooklyn Bridge crash Mexican Navy tall ship lost power before Brooklyn Bridge crash that killed 2, injured 17: NYPD Night of joy for pals of Mexican Navy ship crew turns into tragedy as vessel strikes Brooklyn Bridge: 'We were very scared' Here's why Mexican Navy tall ship that struck Brooklyn Bridge — killing at least 2 — was in NYC Mexican navy cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, ID'd as first victim in Brooklyn Bridge crash As the ship passed underneath, it made 'a scraping sound, and something seemed to fall to the deck,' witness Bill Epes told the New York Times at the time. The ship reportedly came out the other side with a large piece of rope netting stuck to its radar mast. Remarkably, the bridge was not damaged, although a piece of safety net used to protect workers was pulled off. One of the ship's radars was put out of commission, although as it had a backup unite, it was kept safe to sail, Coast Guard spokesman Dennis Uhlenhopp told the Times.
The Independent
18-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
What caused Mexican Navy ship to crash into Brooklyn Bridge? Everything we know after two people killed
A Mexican Navy ship has hit New York's Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people and injuring 19. The sailing ship Cuauhtémoc, which was due to leave the city, struck the bridge on Saturday night. Its three masts all snapped when it smashed into the world-famous bridge, with witnesses out for the evening describing chaotic scenes. There were 277 people on board the vessel, with some crew left dangling from harnesses high in the air waiting for help. Multiple victims were rushed to hospital for treatment, some of them critical. The 142-year-old bridge was spared major damage and investigations into what happened are ongoing. Here's everything we know so far. What happened? The tragic incident unfolded at around 8.30 p. m. on Saturday night, on New York's East River. Bystanders on the Brooklyn waterfront caught the crash on camera, with footage showing crowds fleeing from the water's edge as the ship's towering masts collided with the bridge. It appears to strike some type of scaffolding or gantry on the underside of the bridge, which can then be seen swinging. Debris can be seen falling toward the deck of the ship, including portions of the masts, lights, and rigging. Crew members were standing on the masts as they snapped and fell on the deck. The New York Coast Guard said the Cuauhtémoc lost all three masts and all personnel on the ship had been accounted for and no-one had fallen in the water. The historic bridge did not suffer any major damage and was reopened after a preliminary inspection. What do we know about the victims? The two people killed in the crash were sailors, who have yet to be named. At a press conference held by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, it was confirmed that there were 19 people injured, five critically. The mayor later said on X that two of the injured had passed away. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mourned the loss of the two crew members. "Our solidarity and support go out to their families," Ms Sheinbaum said on X. The most seriously injured victims were on the mast at the time of the collision, officials said. Mayor Adams said the casualties had been taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment. What caused the crash? The Cuauhtémoc was seen on Saturday moving rapidly in reverse toward the Brooklyn side of the East River, heading straight for the bridge. Mayor Adams said on Saturday the boat had a mechanical mishap that caused it to veer into the bridge, after it set off from Pier 17 nearby. The pilot had lost power of the ship, Adams explained, forcing it to head for the bridge abutment on the Brooklyn side. The Cuauhtémoc's mast height was 48.2m (158ft). However, the New York transport department's website says the bridge has a 135ft clearance at its center. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. What do we know about the ship's journey? The Cuauhtémoc, which measures about 297ft long and 40ft wide, sailed for the first time in 1982. The ship was about to leave New York for a goodwill tour to Iceland when the incident happened. Each year, the ship sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets' training. This year, it left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on April 6, the navy said. The Mexican consulate said on May 13 on X that the Cuauhtemoc, also called the Ambassador, and Knight of the Seas, arrived that day and docked at Pier 17. It invited people to visit through May 17. The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 countries, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York. It also had planned to go to Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo and Dunkirk, France; and Aberdeen, Scotland, among others, for a total of 254 days, 170 of them at sea.
