Posted on 05/18/2025 6:52:02 AM PDT by Morgana
Mexican sailors were seen dangling from a navy training vessel's main mast moments after the ship smashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
The sailors had been standing atop the Cuauhtémoc's 150-foot masts in the lead up to the ship striking the iconic structure on Saturday as part of a traditional greeting.
The massive Navy vessel, reportedly carrying nearly 300 passengers, hit the iconic New York City bridge, triggering a colossal rescue response and leaving two dead and dozens more severely injured.
In multiple eyewitness videos, the towering masts are seen snapping and partially collapsing as they crash into the bridge's deck. Sailors perched high above are thrown into chaos, with some seen clinging to the shattered beams high up in the air.
Bystanders Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told the Associated Press they were sitting outside watching the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap.
Looking closer, they said they noticed someone hanging from high on the ship.
'We saw someone dangling, and I couldn't tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,' Katz said.
They reported seeing two people taken off the ship on stretchers and transferred to smaller boats.
The Navy personnel had been standing on the masts of the Mexican Navy ship as part of a ceremonial greeting and show of respect upon entering a port.
This tradition, known as 'manning the yards,' is a longstanding maritime custom practiced worldwide.
The sailors aboard the Cuauhtémoc appeared to have been engaged in this time-honored ritual during the harrowing crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Ship looked like it was Full throttle in reverse, much faster than the current would carry it. The Tug seemed to be chasing after it.
Ditto that!
Any large sailing vessel has power. Engines as well as generators
They backed into the bridge - did they not check the tide tables!
Have a nice day! Bye!
Looks like they can sail as good as they drive.
It’s probably a training program similar to the US Coast Guard Academy’s Eagle. I suspect the idea is similar to learning to drive a stick before going to an automatic.
Ask the CO of the USS McCain. Or the USS Iowa.
The United States Navy does as well.
It is a highly sought after position to train on one of the Navy's sailing teams.
The US Coast Guard uses a masted cutter Eagle as a training vessel for future officers.
“””Ship looked like it was Full throttle in reverse, much faster than the current would carry it. The Tug seemed to be chasing after it.”””
Bingo! It appears that they were at full power astern to move that big of a boat that fast. Maybe the throttles got stuck? Looking at the water near the shore and around the boat that kind of speed was not from tidal movement. The tug was absolutely trying to do something but appeared to start that after the ship hit the bridge. The good part was that the masts broke towards the top and not at their base, that would have been very bad.
Somebody is in big big trouble.
The current captain of the USCG Cutter Eagle, a combination sail and engine driven boat similar to this one is also a woman. The Eagle is used as this one is — a training ship for future officers and one used to show the flag in the US and other countries.
https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Area-Cutters/CGCEAGLE/Commanding-Officer/
They weren’t sailing they were under power by the motor it failed crash ensued.
They didn’t even know how low the bridge was idiots.
Do they dangle from the mast and other similar things for parades as part of their program?
I have no idea. But it would not surprise me if they did.
It is common practice for sailors to line the rails in their dress uniforms for special occasions.
Almost guaranteed considering the many hazards to navigation in the area.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of the investigation.
When you want to stop a boat you drop an anchor.
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