Mexican Navy Tall Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge 2 Dead, 17 Injured

Mexican Navy Tall Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge 2 Dead, 17 Injured

Brooklyn, New York – A Mexican Navy tall ship was involved in a tragic accident on Saturday (local time) when it crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The incident occurred after the ship reportedly lost power, causing the collision that severed the ship's main mast. The accident left two people dead and 17 others injured.

Chronology of Events

The tall ship known as ARM Cuauhtémoc , a training ship belonging to the Mexican Navy, was making a courtesy call to New York Harbor as part of an international diplomatic tour. However, while sailing under the Brooklyn Bridge, the ship reportedly experienced an electrical system failure, causing the ship to lose control of its navigation.

Within seconds, the ship lost its course and crashed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. The violent impact caused the ship's main mast to break and fall onto the ship's deck, resulting in fatalities and injuries among the crew and passengers.

Victims and Emergency Response

Authorities confirmed that two of the fatalities were crew members. Meanwhile, 17 others suffered injuries, some of them serious, and were rushed to nearby hospitals for intensive care. The rescue operation was immediately carried out by a joint team from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), FDNY, and local emergency response units.

Investigation and Official Response

A Mexican Navy spokesman expressed condolences for the incident and pledged to cooperate fully with U.S. authorities in their investigation. Meanwhile, the mayor of New York expressed concern and stressed the importance of maritime safety standards, especially for foreign vessels sailing in congested waters such as New York Harbor.

"This is an unexpected tragedy. We will ensure a thorough investigation is conducted to prevent a similar incident from happening again," the mayor said at a press conference at City Hall.

Impact on Maritime Traffic and Activities

Following the incident, the Brooklyn Bridge was closed for several hours for structural inspection. However, no major damage was found to the bridge structure, and traffic returned to normal the following day. On the other hand, shipping and activities at the port were disrupted due to the evacuation process and investigation of the incident site.

ARM Cuauhtémoc Ship Profile

ARM Cuauhtémoc is a tall ship of the Mexican Navy built in 1982 in Spain. It serves as a training ship for naval cadets and is often a diplomatic envoy in various state visits and international maritime festivals. The ship is about 90 meters long and can carry hundreds of crew and cadets.

Closing

The Mexican Navy tall ship crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge is a stark reminder of the importance of safety and technological readiness in international shipping. While the world awaits the results of a full investigation, attention is now on the care of the victims and the preventive measures both countries will take going forward.