In a nautical misstep that could've been ripped from the pages of history, the Nao Trinidad, a 16th-century Spanish ship replica, lost power and made unintended contact with St. Augustine’s Bridge of Lions this morning. Action News Jax reported that the ship, while on its return to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina, "bumped into the bridge," causing cosmetic damage, as per Melissa Wissel from the City of St. Augustine.
The Nao Trinidad, which had been waiting to pass through the bridge as it arrived at 8 a.m., has been confirmed to have "lost propulsion" according to the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. This incident led the vessel to drift and recollect itself against the bridge. Despite the initial reports of damage, First Coast News clarified that neither the bridge nor the ship were damaged. Following the incident, the Trinidad was quickly towed to safety near the bridge.
Images on social media depicted the noteworthy ship being led away by patrol vessels, a modern escort for the vessel that harks back to the days of seafaring exploration. The Nao Trinidad, a 93-foot reconstruction of Magellan's original vessel, serves both as a connection to the bygone era of maritime discovery and as a floating museum. While docked, it offers visitors the chance to explore its history and the life of Spanish sailors from over 500 years ago.
The bridge remained open despite the incident, and there has been no alteration to public access. Tours of the ship, which include access to its four decks and various historical displays, are still scheduled to be open to the public without pre-arranged times. For those interested, tickets can be purchased either online at tickets.velacuadra.es or dockside upon arrival. According to a post by the St. Augustine Municipal Marina Facebook page, while the exact time for the next tours has not been announced, there's an anticipation to soon welcome guests aboard this historical vessel.
For further information about the ship and its tours, inquiries can be directed to Christian Godoy at 904.770.0293 or via email at [email protected]. Those reaching out about the city's communication on the matter may contact Melissa Wissel, Communications Director, at 904.825.1053 or through email at [email protected].
