Report on dismasting of the Leeuwin II

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released an interim report detailing the collision involving the containership Maersk Shekou and the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II, Australia’s largest sail training ship, at Fremantle Port.

The 333-metre container ship had been waiting off the coast for eight days due to a combination of strikes and poor weather conditions before attempting to enter the port on 30 August 2024. The incident took place in difficult weather conditions, with initial wind gusts of up to 50 knots from the southwest.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell described the series of events that led to the collision. Despite the assistance of three tugs, the vessel had to be steered significantly to port to maintain course as it faced sustained winds on its starboard side. The situation became critical as the vessel struggled to maintain its 083-degree course even while being steered hard to port.

A crucial moment occurred when the helmsman, without proper pilot supervision, gave 30 degrees starboard in an attempt to stabilise the course. This action proved disastrous, as 15 seconds later the chief pilot realised that the ship was no longer turning to port as needed to take the port turn.

The incident escalated when the tug which was on the starboard side was forced to abandon its position to avoid being crushed between the quay and the hull of the Shekou. The collision that followed had several consequences: the starboard bow of the Shekou hit the Leeuwin II, dismasting it, while two crew members aboard the tallship were still able to escape via the gangway just before the collision.

The damage extended beyond the ships involved, as the outer container stack of the Shekou collided with the roof of the WA Maritime Museum, while the starboard side of the ship spun around and collided with the quay. Port authorities eventually managed to get the container ship under control and pilot it to its assigned berth.

The STS Leeuwin II, originally built in 1986, is operated by the Fremantle-based Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation.

The ATSB’s investigation includes interviews with the ship’s captain and crew, both pilots, tug boat skippers and port staff. The investigators examined communications, bridge recordings, port procedures, weather data and vessel documentation.

The ongoing investigation will focus on a number of key issues, including the conduct of the pilots and crew, bridge management, the ship’s safety management system and port and pilotage procedures for ships entering Fremantle. Chief Commissioner Mitchell indicated that the final report will include a detailed safety analysis and findings.

Source: an article by Mike Schuler on Gcaptain.
header photo: Roel Loopers via social media

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