ABC News Update
Two men injured after STS Leeuwin is hit by large container ship at Fremantle Port
By Garrett Mundy
By Ruby Littler
By David Weber
Topic:Accidents and Emergency Incidents
The beloved sailing ship Leeuwin suffers serious damage after being hit by a container ship at Fremantle Port.
In short:
The iconic sailing ship Leeuwin has been hit by a container vessel at Fremantle Port, sustaining extensive damage.
Two men who were working on board the Leeuwin have been injured in the crash.
What’s next?
An investigation has been launched into the crash, which also damaged other infrastructure at the port.
Two men have been injured and Australia’s largest sail-training ship has been damaged in a collision at a Perth port.
A large container ship, the Maersk Shekou, was pushed into the STS Leeuwin after being struck by a sudden squall as it entered Fremantle Port after 6am on Friday.
Two people on the STS Leeuwin were injured. (Supplied: Roel Loopers )
Two night watch crew members on board the Leeuwin suffered injuries and were taken to hospital.
Fremantle Ports said the collision damaged the sailing boat’s masts and superstructure, but the hull appeared to not have sustained major damage.
The bow of the 332-metre Shekou struck the Leeuwin first, with the stern of the vessel then hitting A Berth and the roof of the Maritime Museum.
Damage was also observed from the air to the side of a pier. (ABC News)
Aerial vision shows damage to the roof of the maritime museum in Fremantle. (ABC News)
The collision damaged the hull of the Shekou, which was being accompanied into port by four tug boats.
Footage captured in 10 minute intervals on a Fremantle Port webcam shows the Leeuwin intact at 6am on Friday, then damaged with its mast down at 6:10am as a large container ship moves past.
Images from the Fremantle Port Authority webcam comparing the scene from 8:00am Thursday to 8:00am today. (Supplied: Fremantle Ports Authority)
Based in Fremantle, the STS Leeuwin is a tall ship owned and operated by youth development charity Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation.
The 55-metre long, three-masted 1850s-style ship is used in sailing training for young people across Western Australia.
