2LT International News

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Officials are investigating why a Mexican Navy training ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, breaking the tops of its tall masts. They are looking into whether the ship’s engine failed and what role a tugboat played in helping it leave the dock.

Brian Young from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the engine is a primary focus. Investigators will check if the engine had any problems, review inspection records, and talk to the crew about what happened. They’ll also try to find any electronic data from the ship.

The accident occurred just after sunset on May 17, when the large white ship, Cuauhtémoc, was departing from Pier 17 in lower Manhattan. It was supposed to sail south toward New York Harbor and then on to Iceland.

A tugboat from McAllister Towing was assisting the ship as it backed out of the dock. However, as it moved away, the ship turned and began moving backward—too fast—toward the Brooklyn Bridge. Within minutes, its three tall masts, each about 147 feet high, struck the bottom of the 142-year-old bridge and broke apart.

The crash knocked many naval cadets off the crossbeams of the ship, where they had been standing in uniform as part of a ceremony. They were left hanging from their safety harnesses.

Sadly, two people on board—a cadet and a sailor—died, and about 20 others were hurt, including two who were seriously injured.

A maritime historian, Salvatore Mercogliano, said an engine failure likely caused the accident. Without the failure, the ship may have drifted but would not have hit the bridge so hard. He also noted that it’s unclear whether the tugboat could have prevented the collision.

Online videos show the tug first pushing the front of the ship, then pulling away as the ship moved backward toward the bridge. The tug then appeared to race to the back of the ship, possibly to try to stop it.

After hitting the bridge, the ship continued until it came to a stop at the edge of the Brooklyn side of the river.

NTSB board member Michael Graham said they haven’t yet interviewed anyone but will speak with the tugboat pilot, the ship’s captain, and other crew members. Investigators will examine three key areas: the crew’s operation of the ship, the ship’s condition, and the environment, including weather and river conditions.

The NTSB is also asking the public to share any videos of the accident. They haven’t yet confirmed if the ship had a data recorder.