Planning Underway to Repair Mexican Navy Ship After Fatal Brooklyn Bridge Crash

Photo Source: Eric Adams

Efforts are now underway to repair the Mexican Navy’s training vessel Cuauhtémoc after it tragically struck the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend, killing two naval cadets and injuring 19 others. The vessel, a sailing training ship with 277 sailors and officers onboard, crashed into the bridge after unexpectedly accelerating in reverse shortly after departing from the South Street Seaport.

On Tuesday, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were granted permission by the Mexican government to board the ship. They accessed the vessel at 3 p.m., nearly three days after the incident, and met with Mexican officials to begin gathering critical information.

The NTSB's investigation is still in its early stages. Board Member Michael Graham emphasized that investigators are focused on gathering factual evidence, rather than speculating on causes. “We need to interview the tug pilot, the tugboat pilot, the harbor pilot, the captain of the ship, and several crew members,” Graham said. “We haven’t had that chance yet, and we are not determining a probable cause at this time.”

According to our data, Cuauhtémoc departed the South Street Seaport at 8:20 p.m. Saturday, moving slowly at just under two knots while being towed by a tugboat. However, at 8:23 p.m., the ship disconnected from the tug and inexplicably began accelerating backward. Within one minute, it struck the Brooklyn Bridge at 6.1 knots. NTSB officials noted that environmental factors such as current and wind conditions were not severe at the time of the crash, raising further questions about why the vessel failed to move forward as intended.

NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) provided updates on the vessel’s condition and the ongoing repair planning. Initial damage assessments have been nearly completed. Marine surveyors, contractors, and specialists from Mexico confirmed that no damage to Cuauhtémoc's hull would prevent its movement with tugboat assistance.

However, weather conditions are now a concern. NYCEM stated that forecasted weather for Wednesday and Thursday will likely pause on-site work for safety reasons. Contingency plans are in place to commence mast repairs on Friday, weather permitting. If the schedule holds, the vessel could be moved to a dry dock facility as early as Sunday. The long-term plan involves conducting initial repairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Mayor Eric Adams visited the ship and praised New York’s first responders and the Mexican crew for their swift cooperation during the emergency. “We walked onto the ship, and they were extremely receptive,” Adams said. “Everyone was collaborating. I cannot commend our first responders enough.”

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The Cuauhtémoc had been on an extensive goodwill and training voyage. It was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 countries over 254 days, 170 of those days at sea. Planned destinations included Kingston, Havana, Cozumel, Reykjavik, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo, Dunkirk, and Aberdeen, among others.

While not a tracking event, our tracking data showed the precise timeline of the vessel's movements on the night of the incident, providing critical insight into how the accident unfolded.

As the investigation continues and repair efforts get underway, many questions remain about how this tragic accident occurred, even as international cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities helps chart the course forward.