NEW YORK — A tragic collision between a Mexican navy tall ship and the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday brought to light a hazard that has challenged seafarers for nearly 150 years. The incident resulted in the deaths of two Mexican naval cadets and left several others injured, marking the first known fatal accident involving a vessel striking this iconic New York City structure.
The training ship Cuauhtémoc was conducting a public display when its masts collided with the bridge’s wires. Dozens of sailors, harnessed high up in the rigging, were caught in the accident. The tragedy has cast renewed attention on the complex relationship between maritime navigation and the towering Brooklyn Bridge.
Dominique Jean-Louis, chief historian at the Center for Brooklyn History, noted, “That’s the first and possibly only time where there’s been a fatality onboard of a ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge.” This statement underscores the rarity of such deadly collisions despite the bridge’s long history.
Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River, connecting downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan. The underside of the bridge averages about 135 feet (41.1 meters) above the water, but the clearance fluctuates with tidal changes. This height has been a source of concern for tall ships since the bridge’s construction days.
Even before its completion, incidents occurred. The U.S. Navy’s wooden steam training ship USS Minnesota struck the bridge’s wires in 1878 while still under construction. The ship had lowered its topmast to clear the bridge but had to change course at the last moment to avoid another vessel, resulting in the collision. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Legal challenges accompanied the bridge’s construction as some waterfront businesses and shipowners argued that the structure’s height would restrict maritime navigation. A lawsuit even reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately dismissed the claim, ruling that the bridge did not unduly restrict navigation.
Despite the transition from sailing ships to steam-powered vessels, incidents involving mast strikes persisted. Notably, in the 1920s, the U.S. Navy’s flagship USS Seattle was involved in a collision due to a mast that was “a little too high.” Similar occurrences continued as ships evolved in size and complexity.
In 1941, the SS Nyassa collided with the bridge’s underside, bending part of its mast sharply. This ship was carrying hundreds of refugees to New York City, including Hedwig Ehrlich, widow of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Paul Ehrlich. The collision was accompanied by a “crunching sound” as reported by the New York Times at the time.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard, located just north of the bridge, has historically produced larger ships, including aircraft carriers with masts that fold down to clear the bridge during departure. A 1961 photograph shows the USS Constellation carefully navigating beneath the bridge with its mast lowered onto the deck.
In more recent decades, minor strikes have continued. In 2012, a crane being towed by barge tore into temporary scaffolding under the bridge. Similar damage occurred in July 2023 when a crane accident harmed maintenance equipment. Thankfully, none of these modern incidents resulted in serious injuries.
The Brooklyn Bridge, however, has a tragic history beyond maritime accidents. During its construction, over 20 workers died, many from decompression sickness, an affliction not well understood at the time. Shortly after opening in 1883, a panic-induced stampede among visitors resulted in 12 fatalities.
Saturday’s collision is a somber reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by the bridge’s physical presence amid New York’s bustling waterways. The loss of life aboard the Cuauhtémoc stands as a unique and heartbreaking milestone in the bridge’s long and storied history.
As investigations continue, maritime authorities and city officials will likely examine safety protocols and navigational procedures to prevent such tragedies in the future. The balance between preserving the iconic bridge and ensuring safe passage for vessels remains a complex and critical issue for the city.
The community mourns the loss of the two cadets and extends condolences to their families and the Mexican navy. The incident also reminds us of the courage and dedication of those who navigate these challenging waters daily.
For the people of New York and beyond, the Brooklyn Bridge is more than a marvel of engineering; it is a symbol of connection, resilience, and history. This latest tragedy adds a poignant chapter to its legacy, urging renewed vigilance to protect those who live and work along its shadow.
As the city reflects on this loss, efforts to enhance maritime safety will be crucial in honoring the memory of those lost and preventing future accidents on the East River.
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