Mexican Navy Training Ship Cuauhtémoc Collides with Brooklyn Bridge, Two Dead

New York City, May 18, 2025 - A tragic maritime accident occurred Saturday night when the Mexican Navy's renowned training ship, ARM Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, leaving two people dead and 21 others injured.

The historic tall ship, with 277 people aboard, struck the bridge at approximately 8:20 PM after experiencing a mechanical failure that caused it to lose power and veer into the structure, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

"The pilot lost power of the ship," Mayor Adams stated during a late-night news conference. The collision snapped all three of the vessel's masts, which stood significantly taller than the bridge's clearance.

Bridge Clearance vs. Ship Height

The Brooklyn Bridge has a navigational clearance of 127 feet (38.7 meters) above Mean High Water (MHW), while the masts of the ARM Cuauhtémoc topped at 147 feet (45 meters). This 20-foot height discrepancy proved fatal when the ship lost power, making the collision unavoidable once the vessel drifted toward the bridge.

Maritime navigation charts clearly indicate the Brooklyn Bridge's vertical clearance of 127 feet and a horizontal clearance of 1,350 feet. Under normal circumstances, vessels with tall masts would not attempt to pass under the bridge without taking precautions such as lowering masts or using an alternative route.

The Accident Scene

Dramatic video footage captured the moment the ship's masts struck the bridge. Witnesses reported seeing approximately 80 crew members positioned across the ship's masts just before the collision, many secured with harnesses. Two crew members who were on the masts at the time of impact were among those injured.

Following the collision, twenty-one injured individuals were transported to shore via small boats before being transferred to local hospitals. Mayor Adams reported that two people succumbed to their injuries. The U.S. Coast Guard established a safety zone between the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge, temporarily suspending commercial traffic in the area.

About the ARM Cuauhtémoc

The ARM Cuauhtémoc is a sail training vessel of the Mexican Navy, named for the last Mexica Hueyi Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc who was captured and executed by Spanish conquerors in 1525. The ship, a Barque Class Sail Training vessel, has been in active service for 43 years.

The ship was built at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain. Construction began in 1981 with the keel being laid on July 24, 1981, and the hull launched on January 9, 1982. On September 25, 1982, the Cuauhtémoc was officially commissioned in the port of Veracruz, Mexico, by President José López Portillo.

The ship's name translates to "ambassador and knight of the seas." It measures 270 feet in length and serves as the primary training vessel for the Mexican Navy. Since its commissioning, the ship has visited 228 ports in 73 countries, helping to train Mexican sailors while sharing the goodwill of the Mexican people.

Investigation Underway

The New York Police Department and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the cause of the collision. While initial reports suggest a mechanical failure led to the loss of power, a comprehensive investigation will determine the exact circumstances that led to this tragic accident.

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez reported that a preliminary assessment showed no signs of major damage to the Brooklyn Bridge, which remains open to traffic.

The ARM Cuauhtémoc had been hosted by the city's Seaport Museum on Pier 17 through Saturday, with public viewing scheduled during its five-day stay. The ship was departing New York and was ultimately headed to Iceland when the accident occurred.

Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, was present at the news conference and identified the vessel. The Mexican government has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.