Tall Ship Collides with Bridge in Florida, No Injuries Reported

A tall ship, a replica of Magellan’s famous carrack Trinidad, collided with a bridge at the harbor entrance in St. Augustine, Florida on Monday. The vessel lost propulsion while waiting for a drawbridge to open, causing it to drift into the structure. Fortunately, no major damage or injuries were reported, and first responders quickly moved the ship to a nearby barge mooring.

The Trinidad is a 90-foot, 200 GT replica of the original Nao Trinidad, which was Magellan’s flagship during his historic voyage of discovery in 1519-22. Built in 2017-18, the recreated vessel stays true to the original design with iroko wood planks and a fiberglass outer sheath. The original Nao Trinidad was part of Magellan’s expedition to establish a westbound route to the Moluccas, where valuable spices were traded. Despite facing challenges and losing many crew members, only one ship, the Victoria, and 40 men successfully completed the circumnavigation.

After reaching the Moluccas, the Trinidad attempted to return across the Pacific but was damaged in a storm and captured by Portuguese forces. Navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano led the remaining crew back home, with only the Victoria completing the full voyage. The expedition’s objective was to establish a trade route to the Moluccas, but the journey was fraught with challenges and losses, including the death of Magellan himself.

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