Mexican Navy Ship Sets Sail After 6 Months of Repairs Following Crash With Brooklyn Bridge That Killed 2

The Mexican Navy’s tall ship Cuauhtémoc departed New York City last Saturday afternoon, ending a six-month stay in the city for major repairs following a tragic collision with the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hundreds of spectators gathered at Pier 86 near the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum to bid farewell to the vessel, waving flags, applauding, and joining in performances as the ship prepared for its journey home to Cozumel, Mexico.

Around 300 people attended the departure ceremony. At 2:45 p.m., ship cadets formed ranks on deck as a military band played the Mexican national and naval anthems.

By 3:20 p.m., the gangway was withdrawn and Cuauhtémoc began its 35-day voyage south. The ceremony included traditional dances and emotional farewells from families and supporters.

The departure brought closure to a painful chapter for the crew and New Yorkers alike. On the evening of May 17, Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot three-masted sail training vessel, had left Manhattan’s Pier 17 with cadets aloft in the rigging for a ceremonial send-off.

Under the guidance of a docking pilot, the vessel reversed away from the pier. For reasons still under investigation, it accelerated astern despite orders to proceed ahead and struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. The collision broke all three masts and damaged the rudder, causing injuries to 19 sailors and claiming the lives of two cadets.

Video Credits: Eyewitness News ABC7NY/YouTube

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an ongoing investigation into the incident. Officials have said the inquiry could take a year or more to determine the exact cause of the vessel’s sudden reversal.

After the accident, Cuauhtémoc was taken to Caddell Repair & Dry Dock Co. on Staten Island, where it spent four months in dry dock. Repairs included reconstructing the three masts and inspecting propulsion and steering systems.

By late September, the ship had successfully completed a sea trial and was ready to resume operations. It then relocated to Pier 86, where it remained until Saturday’s departure.

Mexico’s consul general in New York expressed pride in the ship and its service. He described Cuauhtémoc as a symbol of Mexico’s naval tradition, representing over three decades of maritime training since its construction in 1981 in Spain. He also expressed gratitude to New York’s first responders, hospitals, and officials who aided the crew after the collision and offered condolences to the families of the two fallen sailors.

Among the spectators was Carmen Ortiz, a retired teacher from Puebla, who came to see off her nephew, a traumatologist who was among the first responders after the accident. She described the night of the crash as “stressful and very sad” for the crew.

Others, including local residents and performers from various Mexican states, attended the ceremony, offering prayers and sending blessings for the crew’s safety.

Chris O’Brien, president of Sail 4th 250, which is organising America’s 250th birthday maritime celebration, called the ship’s departure a sign of renewal and expressed hope that the Cuauhtémoc would return for the event. Officials described tall ships like Cuauhtémoc as “national treasures” and goodwill ambassadors for their nations.

As Cuauhtémoc eased away from the pier, the crowd cheered while the vessel’s newly rebuilt masts gleamed in the afternoon sun. Its white sails filled with wind as it embarked on a 35-day journey home.

Reference: NYPost

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