Mexican navy ship went backwards before Brooklyn Bridge crash: NTSB

The Mexican naval ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, and now the National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report providing some insight into what led to the crash. The Brooklyn Bridge collision killed two crew members and injured 19 others. The NTSB is now offering the most detailed assessment to date, though several key questions remain unanswered.

Ship went backwards, despite pilot’s commands

The crash happened shortly after the ship left dock in New York City, bound for Iceland. A docking pilot, who is responsible for guiding ships out of the harbor, boarded the vessel and gave orders for the ship to move away from the pier. After clearing the dock, the pilot gave a “stop” command, then ordered the ship to proceed forward at a slow speed.

But the ship did the opposite.

According to the NTSB, the vessel began moving backward and then accelerated in reverse. Despite additional commands from the docking pilot to move forward, the ship continued backing up until its masts slammed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.

At the time, Mexican sailors were standing on the masts as part of a naval display, leading to the deadly accident.

Details from NTSB report

The sea pilot boarded the vessel shortly after 7 p.m. The docking pilot arrived at approximately 7:45 p.m. At 8:16 p.m., the six mooring lines securing the ship were released, according to the investigation. The docking pilot issued verbal commands to the ship’s captain, who relayed them in Spanish to the crew. In addition to directing the ship, the docking pilot was also coordinating with a tugboat, which followed the pilot’s instructions. However, the ship did not respond as intended. Instead, it continued moving in reverse, with its speed increasing from 3.3 knots to 5.9 knots before colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge.

Cause of crash still unknown

The preliminary report does not explain why the docking pilot’s orders were not followed or why the ship accelerated in reverse. It also does not address whether a mechanical failure or engine problem occurred.

However, the report confirmed that those responsible for navigating the ship tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

Mexican navy comments and ongoing investigation

After the accident, Mexican navy Commander Adm. Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles pointed to the docking pilot as the one in control.

“All the maneuvering that the ship did, from the moment it leaves the dock until it collided, is under the control of the pilot. Who decides how the maneuver is performed? The port pilot, precisely,” he told reporters.

He later clarified that it was too early to determine whether the pilot acted improperly.

The Mexican navy is conducting its own investigation, but no findings have been released. The final report from the U.S. safety board could take a year or more to complete.