Dozens of naval cadets stood stoically aboard the Cuauhtémoc’s towering 147-foot mast, while others dressed in cultural Mexican garb awaited nearby, and three long horns sounded as the boat sailed through New York Harbor as a signal of goodwill between Mexico and the US — even amid the ongoing tariff drama.

A New York Police Department harbor unit passes in front of the Cuauhtémoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship as it sits stranded near the Manhattan Bridge after colliding with the Brooklyn Bridge, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A Mexican Navy training ship lost power and collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two Mexican Seamen. Strong currents, mechanical failure, and lack of local knowledge contributed to the tragedy.

Two Mexican Navy soldiers who were part of 277 passengers have died after the mast they were standing on aboard the ARM Cuauhtémoc (BE01) collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The Cuauhtémoc is 297 feet tall and has 3 masts.

According to Sail Training International, the Cuauhtémoc was constructed in Bilbao, Spain, in 1981 under the name Celaya. The Mexican Navy later purchased the ship to use as a training vessel for officers, cadets, petty officers, and sailors.