A dramatic scene unfolded in New York City after a Mexican Navy ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday while sailing along the East River. As the ship scraped against the underside of the iconic bridge, it caused visible damage to the vessel’s mast.This incident prompted emergency response efforts and temporarily halted the vessel’s tour. Videos of the incident went viral on social media, where people can be seen left in shock, screaming and backing away from the shore as the ship’s towering mast, adorned with a large green, white, and red Mexican flag, hit the bridge.The Mexican Navy confirmed the incident in a statement on X, saying that Cuauhtémoc, a naval academy training vessel, was unable to continue its journey due to the collision. The extent of the damage has not been fully disclosed, but officials said an assessment of the vessel’s condition and crew is underway.“The Secretary of the Navy renews its commitment to the safety of personnel, transparency in its operations and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Armada,” the navy said in Spanish.Authorities confirmed injuries in the wake of the incident. The New York Fire Department’s press desk said that emergency teams were responding, but no specific details were provided about the number of injured or whether they were aboard the vessel or on the bridge at the time of impact.Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot-long and 40-foot-wide training ship, is a pride of the Mexican Navy and a floating academy for its cadets. Built in 1982, the ship embarks annually on extended international voyages to complete the final phase of officer training. According to the Navy, it departed from Acapulco on April 6 with 277 people onboard, including naval cadets, officers, and crew.The ship was in the early stages of a 254-day goodwill tour across 22 ports in 15 countries. Its itinerary included visits to Kingston, Havana, Cozumel, Reykjavik, and several French and British coastal cities, including Bordeaux, Saint Malo, Dunkirk, and Aberdeen. The tour was scheduled to include 170 days at sea and 84 days in port.
