What happened to the engine? – Diepresse.com
According to the US transport authority, the ship’s engine is the focus of the investigation. The role of the tractor, which supported the huge sailing ship, is also examined. The accident in New York called for two fatalities and about 20 injuries.
Why did a Mexican naval ship rectify the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday? This question is still being examined. In the accident, the tip of the three masts on the bridge, the masts broke. The focus of the investigation is a possible engine damage and the role of a tractor that helped the ship when reversing from his pier, the US authorities explained on Monday.
The engine of the ship is the main focus of the US authority NTSB, the National Transportation Safety Board, said Brian Young, who heads the authority’s investigation. « We will look at the condition of the engine, we will look for failures, we will look for engine inspections and we will talk to the crew about what happened to the engine, » said Young at a press briefing.
School ship drives Brooklyn Bridge
The accident occurred when the majestic white school ship Cuauhtémoc took off on Saturday shortly after sunset from Pier 17 in Lower Manhattan on the East River. The planned route of the ship led south, away from the Brooklyn Bridge and towards the New York port and his next destination in Iceland. When leaving the pier, the ship was accompanied by a tug of the company « McAllister Towing ». When it left the dock, the ship turned, but continued its rapid reverse ride towards the bridge. Minutes later, his three 44.8 -meter mast met the underside of the 142 -year -old bridge.
« /> The accident ship on the evening of May 17th in front of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Imago / Kyle Mazza
The impact tore dozens of naval cadets in white uniforms from the cross carriers of the ship, where they were solemn for the exit from the harbor. Pictures showed how some of them got into problems at their belts high above the ship’s deck. Two people on board the ship – a cadet and a sailor – were killed, about 20 people were injured, and two of them were difficult.
Salvatore R. Mercliano, shipping historian at Campbell University, said it seemed as if an engine disorder caused the accident. « Without the engine damage, the ship might have been driven against the bridge, but it would not have crashed against it at full speed, » Mercliano told Reuters. « The engine damage drove the ship into the bridge. And it is not entirely clear what the tractor could have done to prevent it. »
What role does the tow ship play?
On videos published on the Internet it was seen how the tractor first pressed against the bow of the ship and then loosened from him when the ship approached the bridge. Then the towing ship seemed to move towards the rear as if he wanted to prevent the ship from ramming the bridge. After the masts had collapsed, the sailing ship drove further under the bridge until there was a standstill on the Brooklyner side of the river, as videos showed.
NTSB board member Michael Graham said that the committee had not yet carried out any surveys and intended to speak to the tract pilot, the harbor pilot, the ship captain and other crew members. « We will examine three main areas: the crew and the work of the crew, the ship and the condition of the ship, and finally the surroundings, and that includes the weather, the wind, the current, tides and the operating environment, » said Graham. (Reuters)
