A Devastating Collision: Iconic Tall Ship Damaged at Fremantle Port

Australia's largest sail-training vessel, the STS Leeuwin II, has been left a wreck after being smashed into by a container vessel at Fremantle Port. The incident, which occurred around 6am on Friday morning, has left the iconic ship with broken masts and debris strewn across the waterway. The Maersk Shekou, a 332-metre container ship, ran into the anchored Leeuwin as it berthed in port.

The Aftermath: Damaged Ship and Injured Crew

Photographs of the aftermath show the Leeuwin as a crumpled mess. Two crew members aged in their 20s and 60s were aboard the Leeuwin at the time and were taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It is believed they suffered the injuries as they escaped the ship after being woken by a loud crack.

“Both were injured but managed to escape from the vessel and are being assessed and receiving medical treatment,” Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation chairman Jay Weatherill said. “Our first concern is for their safety and welfare and our thoughts and best wishes are with our crew mates for a speedy recovery.”

Mr Weatherill expressed his horror at the damage and acknowledged the major trauma experienced by the crew. “The damage also in my mind raises the very real risk that there could have been loss of life. Fortunately, we’re not dealing with that,” he said.

The Investigation: Identifying the Cause

Fremantle Port chief executive Jodie Ransom confirmed that the container ship had also “slightly impacted” the Maritime Museum nearby. “The bow of the Maersk vessel has struck the Leeuwin and the stern of the Maersk vessel has made a slight impact with the Maritime Museum,” she said. “At the moment, we’ve got structural engineers reviewing the Maritime Museum’s structural integrity and ensuring that it’s safe before we allow people back in this afternoon. The advice I’ve received at the moment is the damage is superficial.”

The Maersk has been berthed, with officials assessing the damage to both vessels. “There’s an investigation that will follow and that will determine the cause of it, and what actions we might take in the future,” Ms Ransom said. “This is a rare occurrence for the port and we have very strict operating parameters that we’re constantly revising to make sure that the port operates effectively in safety. The Leeuwin is a foundational piece within the port and seeing the damage occur and the incident occur is stressful for all of us, and particularly our concerns are for the crew on board the Lewin who were injured.”

Looking Ahead: Recovery and Rebuilding

Mr Weatherill said that it was hoped to get the Leeuwin operational again as soon as possible. “The Leeuwin has been helping the youth of Western Australia for more than 35 years and remains a community-based volunteer driven organisation,” he said. “The Leeuwin has sailed roughed seas over these years and we hope it will return to the service of the youth of WA as soon as possible.”

The Fremantle Port and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have launched an investigation into the incident. “AMSA is monitoring the situation and will begin enquiries in relation to the incident as the morning unfolds,” an AMSA spokesman said.

The incident has shocked the community and has raised questions about the safety of the port. It remains to be seen how long it will take to repair the damage to the Leeuwin and what the long-term impact of the incident will be.