Another Bridge Tragedy

 There has been another bridge strike by a ship, resulting in loss of life and serious injury. This time it occured in New York when the Mexican naval training barque ARM Cuauhtémoc alided with the Brooklyn Bridge May 17. The strike toppled the fore top mast and the main mast. So far reports state that two persons died and at least 19 were hospitalized, some with serious injures. No one went in the water.

The barque was getting underway for sea and as usual many of the cadets or crew members were "manning" the yards. Reports indicate that the vessel lost power and was swept under the bridge by the current, fetching up on the island base of one of the abutment towers. Seemingly a tug was used to move off the berth, but had been let go once clear. Videos show the tug, after the masts came down, making speed to catch up and try to slow or stop the vessel before it ran ashore. It was never the intention of the barque to pass under the bridge, but it only did do so due to loss of power and river current.

The Cuauhtemoc has been in Halifax more than once, usually on courtesy calls, and as a participant in Tall Ship events.

On May 12, 2016 it was tied up at the Cable Wharf in Halifax on a bright sunny day, and as usual had hoisted a giant national flag, as it was at the time of the this most recent accident. (Compare to the size of the Canadian flag.)

According to most sources, bridge clearance for the Brooklyn Bridge is 41.15meters (135 ft) at highest tide. [Beware of AI generated "stories" riddled with errors on this topic.] Air draft for the Cuauhtémoc is variously reported at 48.2 meters (158 ft).

The Cuauhtémoc was built in 1982 in Bilbao, Spain, one of several sister ships used for sail training by other hispanic countries. With a displacement of 1800 tons, it can carry up to 227 persons, including 90 cadets, when on training cruises.  It is rated as a Class A Tall Ship and has participated in numerous events world-wide.

 Conditions were not quite so pleasant a few days later - May 15, 20I6. The Cable Wharf is well south (to seaward) of the first harbour bridge.

It will be many months before the reasons for the accident can be determined officially. Repairs will also be costly and time consuming, so it may be some time before we see the Cuauhtémoc in Halifax again. 

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Pronunciation of the ship's name (the name of the last Aztec Emperor) has presented a challenge to news sources - some of whom have given up completely, and not tried to use the name at all.  I have found a You Tube audio guide:

I recommend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-_JwsuNJeE  

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Ghost Ships plus update

It is fog season in Halifax again. Frustrating for some photographers, it does provide interesting opportunities to eliminate distracting backgrounds.

The veteran herring seiner Margaret Elizabeth No.1, built in 1971 in Pictou, is here once again. As usual it is tied up at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for the weekend, this time across the end of the Acadia's pier. It will likely sail this afternoon or tomorrow in search of the elusive migratory fish.

The tall ship Cuauhtemoc stands out against the fog at the Cable Wharf. Tomorrow it will move to HMC Dockyard.

Jetty Lima stands out from the old J.P.Porter facility under the Macdonald Bridge, seen from Pier 9. Stay tuned for more on that wasteland area.


Later in the day:

Largely free of fog for its short stay in port for bunkers, the tanker Minerva Vera  occupied most of number one anchorage.

The big ocean going catamaran Lucia makes its way inbound passing the tanker in ballast.

Built in 2009 by Hyundai Samho, it is a 81,467 grt, 158,022 dwt crude tanker, flying the Greek flag for Minerva Marine Inc of Athens..

The autocarrier Prime Ace arrived in fog, made its way to a clear patch in the lower harbour, turning around Ives Knoll to the north of Macnab's Island, and was back into the fog to berth at Autoport.

Tugs have the ship in hand as it heads for Eastern Passage and more fog.

Prime Ace was built by Miniami-Nippon in Usuki for MOL and measures 50,007 grt, 18,304 dwt, with a capacity of 6400 cars.

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