The US National Transportation Safety Board on 1 July released its preliminary findings on the Mexican Navy’s tall ship Cuauhtémoc, which struck the Brooklyn Bridge on 17 May. The agency classifies the event as a “serious marine casualty” but stresses that the inquiry remains open and no fault has been assigned. Investigators say the three-masted barque was moving astern under the control of a harbor pilot after departing Manhattan’s Pier 17. Over roughly eight minutes the vessel’s reverse speed increased from 3.3 to 5.9 knots, and at 20:24 local time the tops of its mizzen, main and fore masts hit the underside of the bridge before the hull came to rest against an East River bulkhead. The Cuauhtémoc was carrying 277 crew and cadets; two cadets—América Yamileth Sánchez, 20, and Adal Jair Maldonado, 23—died and 19 others were injured. While the bridge avoided structural harm, the ship’s rigging, masts and steering gear sustained damage estimated at more than US$500,000. The NTSB is examining the vessel’s propulsion and steering systems, operating procedures and crew training. Alcohol and drug tests on the captain and two pilots were negative. The Mexican Navy has sent engineering and legal teams to assist and has moved the vessel to a local yard for repairs while the investigation continues.