Mexican Navy Tall Ship Cuauhtémoc Leaves Staten Island for Sea Trial After Brooklyn Bridge Crash

The Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc departed Staten Island on a planned sea trial Wednesday afternoon to test repairs after slamming into the Brooklyn Bridge last spring. The voyage, intended to evaluate the vessel’s repaired equipment, began around 2 p.m. and is expected to return from the Atlantic coastline by the end of the weekend, a spokesperson for the shipyard said. The test is described as an operational assessment to confirm that key systems are functioning properly in real-sea conditions.

Sal Morino, vice president of Caddell Dry Dock & Repair Co., said the repairs on the Cuauhtémoc have been completed and focused on the ship’s critical components, including the three masts that were severed in the crash. He added that the crew conducted thorough inspections of the Cuauhtémoc’s running gear, which encompasses the shafts, struts, propellers, rudders, trim tabs and thrusters. If the three-day voyage proceeds without incident, the ship would be cleared to depart New York and close out a six-month stay in the harbor that had been scheduled to last only five days when the visit began.

The Cuauhtémoc’s sea trial comes after about half a year of extensive work on the vessel following the May collision, which caused about $500,000 in damage. The mission now is to validate the repairs and determine if the ship is fully ready for return to active duty. The Mexican Navy has indicated the repairs were substantial, including reconstituting the three mast assemblies and ensuring all systems are aligned for long-term operation. The ship has already spent months in a New York harbor environment while crews addressed damage control and structural concerns.

The accident, which killed two crew members who were reportedly perched on the masts at the time of impact and injured 19 others, occurred when the Cuauhtémoc appeared to sail backward and accelerate toward the Brooklyn Bridge, causing the vessel to strike a seawall on the east side of the river. The bridge itself did not suffer structural damage, though paint flaking and superficial marks were noted in initial assessments. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have not yet determined why the ship’s forward movement orders did not prevent the collision, nor why the vessel began to accelerate when it did. Weather conditions at the time were described as clear, and both the ship’s pilot and the tugboat operator tested negative for alcohol and other drugs in the immediate aftermath, according to NTSB findings.

The ongoing investigation has left several questions unresolved, including those surrounding the ship’s handling and the crew’s actions in the moments leading up to and during the collision. The investigation dating from the incident continues to scrutinize procedural decisions and whether there were any contributing factors related to crew training or ship systems. Officials have cautioned that determining the full sequence of events could take months, if not longer, given the complexity of a maritime accident of this scale.

As part of its long-term plans for international tall-ship events, organizers previously floated the Cuauhtémoc’s potential return as part of the Class A International Tall Ships flotilla that is slated to parade through New York Harbor in conjunction with the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations. While no firm confirmation has been issued, Chris O’Brien, president of Sail4th 250, told The Post in July that organizers would welcome the Cuauhtémoc’s triumphant return to the harbor. The ship’s presence for 2026 would align with a lineup designed to celebrate the anniversary with a ceremonial maritime display.

The three-day sea trial is expected to test not only propulsion and steering but the operability of safety and life-support systems as well as communications and navigational equipment. If all metrics come back favorable, the Cuauhtémoc would be cleared to leave New York and rejoin the national fleet without further major repairs. The outcome of the sea trial, along with the continuing investigation into the crash, will shape the vessel’s schedule for the near term and could influence whether the ship participates in future ceremonial events tied to the anniversary celebrations.

The Cuauhtémoc’s stay in New York—initially planned as a brief port call—has been extended as engineers completed the repair work and the Navy assessed the vessel’s seaworthiness. The ship’s performance on this sea trial will be closely watched by both international maritime observers and the public who followed the incident closely last spring. The ongoing investigation underscores the complexity of maritime safety and the need for careful analysis when a training vessel makes rapid, unintended maneuvers that end in tragedy. As investigators continue to review data and interview crew members, officials emphasize that this trial represents a critical step in validating the vessel’s readiness after substantial repairs and in determining the path forward for any future engagements by the Cuauhtémoc within the United States.”