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 ...
Lost power...
Like the ship that nailed the Francis Scott Key Bridge..?
Doesn’t look like the Brooklyn Bridge has dolphins, either...
It probably has an auxiliary motor that was in use at the time
Depends on who was on that ship.
Loss of power...DROP ANCHOR!!!
I was taught this lesson by age 10, where was the captain?
This is gross negligence on his part, the entire “accident” could have been avoided, had he followed the 1st rule of seamanship.
Navy SEALs Inspecting Radioactive Ship Off New Jersey
IIRC, that ship's next port of call would have been Norfolk.
I don’t believe that the vessel was “drifting with the current or tide”. If so, it wouldn’t have been producing a wake. It was under power in reverse.
It’s been reported no real damage to the bridge. A wood masted ship, wouldn’t have expected anything. These were Mexican midshipmen (young men training to be Naval officers)on a courtesy pre-tour to support us celebrate July 4th next year.
Two were initially killed while manning the masts, several were significantly injured.
Geez, have a little compassion…
Can you imagine the cars on the bridge seeing it coming at them.
Oh yes it could and has, many times. A most notable example of DEI failure:
From March, 2010 Time Magazine article (note the idiotic headline
“Sexism and the Navy’s Female Captain Bligh”
https://time.com/archive/6691074/sexism-and-the-navys-female-captain-bligh/
“It should have been clear to the U.S. Navy that Holly Graf wasn’t fit for command when her destroyer steamed out of a Sicilian port in 2003 on the eve of the Iraq war. Without warning, all 9,000 tons of the U.S.S. Winston S. Churchill shuddered as it cleared the harbor’s breakwater. The screws stopped turning, and the 511-ft.-long ship was soon adrift. “What the hell happened?” Commander Graf demanded from the bridge. She grabbed her cowering navigator and pulled him onto the outdoor bridge wing. “Did you run my f___ing ship aground?” she screamed. Not only was this a possible naval disaster, but it was a diplomatic one as well: the navigator was an officer in the British Royal Navy, a billet unique to the Churchill.
But amid all the chaos and shouting, the sound heard next was more startling. Sailors on the Churchill’s stern, suspecting that their ship had run aground–meaning Graf’s career would be instantly over–broke gleefully into song: “Ding dong, the witch is dead!”...
Within the last 10 years blatant incompetency of US Navy ship commanders, many of them women have had major incidents at sea and in port.
Exactly. Prayers for the sailors.
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.
I might not be well versed with traditions but colliding with bridges doesn’t seem to be a very good one.
The ship was backing out of port and the rudder broke sending the ship moving backwards. Now, why the anchor wasn’t dropped or why the sailors were still on the sails, who knows. It must have happened quickly.
Well said. Agree!
Modern day sailing ships have had alternate engine power for many decades when there is no wind or wind in the right direction.
They weren’t sailing toward the bridge. The tide took them toward the bridge.
“Modern day sailing ships have had alternate engine power for many decades ...”
That defeats the purpose of it being a “sailing ship”
The comments here are below the FR of the past.
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