Feds probing tugboatspossible role in deadly Mexican ship, Brooklyn Bridge crash

NTSB probers Monday said they are investigating a tugboat’s possible role in a Mexican ship’s crash into the Brooklyn Bridge — while adding they have yet to board the foreign craft, much less talk to its crew.“Part of our investigation will be to look into procedures” involving tug boats in the harbor, agency investigator Brian Young told reporters at the first National Transportation Safety Board briefing since the Saturday night collision that killed two young Mexican sailors.A local tugboat had been helping to guide the Mexican boat out of port before the tall ship headed to Iceland.Questions have arisen over whether the tug may have too quickly released the ship, when then barreled in reverse into the span.Young and NTSB board member Michael Graham cautioned that the investigation is preliminary, noting that the agency is still negotiating with the Mexican government to get access to the ship and the cadets who remain on board.Dozens of the sailors have already left for home.“Still working to get access to the ship,” Graham said at the briefing.“We haven’t yet had a chance to access the engine.“We haven’t had a chance to talk to any of the crew at this point.

We are working with our counterparts in the Mexican government to gain access to the ship.”Young detailed the final minutes before the Cuauhtemoc, a three-mast training ship for Mexican navy cadets, allegedly lost its steering ability and struck the historic span — demonstrating how quickly things turned deadly.“At 8:24 p.m., a [voyage data recorder] radio broadcast was sounded requesting assistance from other tugboats in the area of the Brooklyn Bridge,” Young said.“That was followed by two other requests for assistance, and at 8:24 and 45 seconds, the vessel’s mast struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.At 8:27, the vessel came to a stop.”He said NYPD and FDNY boats were at the scene by 8:30 p.m.Shocking footage captured the collision and showed cadets clinging t...