On a warm May evening in New York City, the skyline lit golden by the setting sun, what began as a farewell cruise turned into tragedy for the Mexican Navy’s tall ship, Cuauhtémoc. The ship, a symbol of maritime pride and international goodwill, had arrived at Pier 17 just four days earlier, on May 13, 2025, as part of a global voyage marking the “Consolidation of Mexican Independence 2025.” The tour was set to visit 22 ports across 15 countries over 254 days, with the Cuauhtémoc acting as both floating ambassador and training vessel for young naval cadets.
The public had been invited onboard during its stay, welcomed by the crew in full dress uniform. Docked among Manhattan’s bustling piers, the ship—with its three towering masts and white hull—was a striking presence, capturing the attention of locals and tourists alike.
But at 8:26 p.m. on May 17, moments after departing Pier 17 on the East River, something went disastrously wrong.
According to early findings from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Cuauhtémoc suffered a sudden power failure while executing a departure maneuver under the guidance of a licensed New York harbor pilot—a standard requirement for foreign vessels navigating U.S. waters. Without propulsion or steering, the vessel began drifting backward, caught in the East River’s strong currents. Within less than two minutes, its speed had climbed from a controlled 2.3 knots to a dangerous 6 knots in reverse.
The crew managed to call for tugboat assistance, and a tug was already working from behind the ship. But no formal distress call or mayday was made, a point now central to the NTSB’s investigation. Investigators believe the crew had just seconds to react before the ship’s tall masts collided with the lower span of the Brooklyn Bridge—a structure with only 38.7 metres of clearance at mean high water, compared to the ship’s 48-metre mast height from the waterline.
The impact was catastrophic. All three masts snapped violently, crashing down onto the deck and into the rigging. The scene was chaotic—sparks, broken lines, panicked shouts. Of the 277 people onboard, 22 were injured and sadly two lost their lives. The crew has since been repatriated, though 94 remain with the ship at its temporary berth at Pier 36.
While the bridge suffered no major structural damage, the emotional and symbolic toll has been immense. Cuauhtémoc’s masts were more than functional—they were iconic, a visible link to Mexico’s naval history and its commitment to global diplomacy. The ship itself, built in 1982, has served as a training vessel for generations of cadets and has represented Mexico in tall ship parades around the world.
The Mexican Navy has launched its own inquiry alongside the NTSB’s formal investigation, confirming the harbour pilot may have had only 80 to 90 seconds to respond once the vessel began accelerating in reverse. Every moment of the voyage is now under review, from engine logs and voyage recorders to crew interviews and environmental data.
The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days, but a full investigation could take up to two years. Speculation is already mounting. Did mechanical failure alone cause the accident? Was the ship’s design compatible with the realities of tight urban harbours like New York’s? Could protocol or training have made a difference?
What’s clear is that the Cuauhtémoc incident has reopened long-standing debates about the safety of operating historic or oversized vessels in proximity to ageing infrastructure. Comparisons have been drawn to the Dali cargo ship accident in Baltimore in 2024, which also involved a major bridge collision.
As repair crews assess the damage and investigators pore over evidence, the future of the Cuauhtémoc remains uncertain. Will the masts be rebuilt? Will the voyage resume? We await further updates.
As investigations continue, the question has arisen: could a similar incident occur in New Zealand waters?
In Auckland, for example, such an event is unlikely due to generous bridge clearances and well-managed harbour operations, but it cannot be entirely ruled out. Mechanical failures, human error, and the presence of visiting large vessels during superyacht-drawing events all present potential, albeit rare, risks. While the Auckland Harbour Bridge’s main navigation span allows for 43.27 metres of clearance above high water—significantly more than the Brooklyn Bridge—height is only one of several contributing factors in this type of incident.
