Mexican ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge because it lost steering during mechanical failure: sources

A Mexican tall ship slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge because it apparently lost its steering capacity thanks to mechanical failure, sources said — a tragedy eerily reminiscent of last year’s Baltimore span disaster.Shocking footage captured the moment the Mexican Navy’s 147-foot tall showboat the Cuauhatemoc struck the historic New York City bridge Saturday night, killing two crew members, injuring at least 17 other people — and leaving terrified crew members dangling and clinging for dear life from the rigging.“There must have been a lot of frantic, ‘Look out!’ There had to be some pandemonium,” retired US Navy Capt.Alfred McClaren told The Post of the likely scene aboard ship.

Sources said the 43-year-old vessel was on its way to the Brooklyn waterfront to refuel before setting sail for Iceland but had plenty of diesel when it appeared to have lost its steering ability because of a mechanical malfunction and was quickly carried into the bridge by powerful East River currents.A local harbor pilot, or mariner familiar with the East River’s currents and condition, and area docking pilot, who helps navigate ships out of regional berths and docks, were involved in aiding the guiding of the vessel before the crash, well-placed sources said.At least one of the two was on board the ship at the time.With an investigation now under way to confirm what went wrong, former US Coast Guard Lt.

Henry Lipian told The Post the crew could have tried to drop anchor to try to help thwart the tragedy.“It doesn’t mean an anchor’s going to work,” Lipian said.“It might slow the ship a little bit, but it might not be enough to stop it.

It’s no guarantee.“You lose your engine for whatever reason, you’re at the mercy of the elements.” Lipian said it was a “worst-case scenario” for a crew made up largely of “trainees” to lose power in a harbor such as New York’s.“You only have a short distance and a relatively short period of time to react,�...