The Mexican naval vessel that struck the Brooklyn Bridge final month was towed throughout the East River to the Brooklyn Navy Yard early Friday, the place will probably be dry-docked and repaired, metropolis officers mentioned.
The U.S. Coast Guard arrange a “safety zone” within the East River Friday morning so the ARM Cuauhtémoc may very well be slowly towed to its new berth, metropolis Workplace of Emergency Administration officers mentioned.
Two crew members died on the ship when its masts snapped off upon placing the underside of the enduring East River span on Could 17.
Crew members on the masts have been left dangling within the air by their harnesses after the East River crash, however nobody ended up within the water, video of the horrific crash confirmed.
The Cuauhtémoc, a Mexican naval vessel which struck the Brooklyn Bridge in Could, is seen on the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the place will probably be repaired, officers mentioned. (NYC Emergency Administration)
After leaving the pier, the ship accelerated backward, finally reaching a velocity of about 6 knots, NTSB Investigator in Cost Brian Younger mentioned final month.
“At 8:24 p.m., the VHF radio broadcast was sounded requesting assistance from other tugboats in the area of the bridge,” Younger mentioned. “At 8:24 and 45 seconds, the vessel’s masts struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.”
The bridge averted severe harm and was by no means susceptible to collapse, officers mentioned.
The U.S. Nationwide Transportation Security Board was nonetheless investigating what brought about the crash, however engine failure coupled with robust currents is suspected.
The Mexican naval ship Cuauhtemoc is pictured within the East River after placing the Brooklyn Bridge on Could 17, 2025. (Gardiner Anderson / New York Every day Information)
The security zone on Friday brought about minor delays on the Staten Island Ferry towards decrease Manhattan, however the Cuauhtémoc was docked by the Brooklyn Navy Yard by 7:30 a.m., officers mentioned.
“Relocating a naval vessel by tow through an active waterway required detailed planning, unified command, and constant communication,” OEM mentioned on X.
The ship was heading for Iceland when it drifted into the East River span, which is about 30 ft decrease than the ship’s masts. It was supposed to go south to refuel in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, earlier than heading out of New York Harbor and was by no means meant to sail beneath the bridge.
In keeping with the FDNY, no less than 19 of these aboard have been handled for accidents, with 11 initially in crucial situation. The deceased have been recognized as America Yamilet Sanchez, 20, and Adal Jair Marcos, 23.
