Mexican Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the ARM Cuauhtémoc Training Ship of the Mexican Navy was involved in a serious accident when it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The incident resulted in the death of two cadets and more than twenty people injured, including several in critical condition. The event occurred at 8:26 p.m. as the vessel was performing departure maneuvers from Pier 17 at South Street Seaport as part of its international voyage.

The Cuauhtémoc, an iconic training ship of the Mexican Navy, had departed Acapulco on April 6 with a crew of 277 people, including 175 cadets in training. Its mission was to visit 22 ports in 15 countries during a 254-day journey, promoting naval diplomacy and strengthening the training of future Mexican naval officers. New York was the third stop on this tour, after visiting Miami and Charleston.

According to preliminary reports, during the departure maneuver, the ship lost power and was left at the mercy of the East River current. This failure caused it to deviate from its planned route and violently collide with the lower structure of the historic bridge. The impact caused the ship’s three masts to fall, crushing several crew members who were performing routine duties on deck.

The fatalities were two young cadets from Veracruz and Oaxaca, both in the final stages of their training. The injured, numbering over twenty, were immediately transported to nearby hospitals, with at least three reported in serious condition. Mexican authorities have coordinated with consulates in New York for the repatriation of the bodies and medical care for the injured.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Coast Guard have opened a joint investigation to clarify the circumstances. Possible mechanical failures, navigation errors, or human factors that may have contributed to the incident are being analyzed. Mexican authorities have expressed full willingness to cooperate with the investigation and assume responsibility if determined by the technical review.

The Mexican government has expressed its sorrow over the tragedy and offered support to the victims’ families, as well as institutional backing to the surviving cadets. The National Navy Secretariat has ordered a thorough inspection of the ship’s condition and temporarily suspended scheduled stops while necessary repairs are carried out.

The Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer serious structural damage and was reopened to vehicular and pedestrian traffic within hours. However, the incident has raised alarms about navigation risks in densely trafficked waterways and has reopened the debate over safety protocols in high-traffic urban rivers.

This episode represents a severe blow to the Mexican naval community and highlights the need to redouble efforts in operational safety and international coordination during port maneuvers. While investigations continue, the ARM Cuauhtémoc remains docked in New York under technical and legal supervision.