Mexican Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc Strikes Brooklyn Bridge: 2 Dead and 22 Injured

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Mexican Navy’s training tall ship Cuauhtémoc struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, resulting in the death of two crew members and injuring at least 22 others, two of whom are in critical condition. The accident occurred at approximately 8:26 p.m. local time as the vessel, carrying 277 people, was departing Manhattan's Pier 17 en route to Iceland.

According to authorities, the Cuauhtémoc lost propulsion during an unmooring maneuver and was carried by the current toward the bridge, striking the structure with its three masts, which snapped upon impact. Several sailors who were in the rigging at the time were left dangling in midair, but fortunately none fell into the water.

The Cuauhtémoc is a three-masted barque with a steel hull, built in 1982 by the Celaya shipyards in Bilbao, Spain. She measures 90.5 meters in overall length, has a beam of 12 meters, and a draft of about 5.4 meters, with a displacement of over 1,800 tonnes. She is rigged with 23 traditional fabric sails, offering a total sail area of approximately 2,400 square meters, and can reach a top speed of 12 knots under sail.

Auxiliary propulsion is provided by a diesel engine rated at approximately 1,200 kW, allowing the vessel to navigate without wind or in emergency conditions, such as the one that occurred during this incident.

The ship is used for training officer cadets of the Mexican Navy and also undertakes diplomatic and cultural missions as an ambassador of Mexico worldwide. Known as the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” the Cuauhtémoc has taken part in numerous Tall Ships Races and international regattas. Life on board includes celestial navigation, traditional sail handling, and community seamanship, all in strict adherence to nautical tradition.

Emergency teams, including the FDNY, NYPD, and the U.S. Coast Guard, responded swiftly, transporting the injured to local hospitals. New York Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge had not sustained significant structural damage and that traffic resumed after safety inspections.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences for the loss of the two sailors and confirmed that Mexican authorities are cooperating with their U.S. counterparts to investigate the incident.

Initial findings suggest a possible mechanical failure as the cause of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Mexican Navy are jointly investigating to establish accountability and prevent similar future incidents.

©PressMare - All rights reserved