VIDEO CAPTURES LEEUWIN COLLISION
VIDEO footage of the destructive moment a container ship smashed into STS Leeuwin II will form part of Fremantle Ports’ investigation into the inner harbour collision on Friday.
Available on the StreetWise page, the 50-second video shows 332m Maersk Shekou snapping off the three masts on the 55m tall ship in bad weather about 6.15am. The roof of the WA Maritime Museum also was clipped.
Two crew on night watch on Leeuwin were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The Singaporean vessel can be seen scraping against and demasting the Leeuwin at its berth before Maersk Shekou uses its ship horn to warn other vessels of the collision.
Shekou’s bow struck the Leeuwin first. The stern of the vessel then hit A Berth and the roof edge of the Maritime Museum.
The video posted to the StreetWise page has reached 3300 people, shared 262 times and attracted disbelief and sadness over the damage to Australia’s largest training vessel. The three-masted barquentine is named after the Dutch galleon Leeuwin which mapped the south-west coast of Australia in 1622.
“No! It’s hitting that boat with the big sails,” one of the observers says on the phone video sent to StreetWise last night. “The Endeavour’s gone,” another says.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell told WAToday Maersk Shekou was being conducted to its berth by a Fremantle harbour pilot when it collided with Leeuwin.
Fremantle Ports spokesman Neil Stanbury told StreetWise it had video of the incident and welcomed anyone who happened to film the collision to contact authorities.
He said in 2013, a container ship lost power entering the inner harbour but tug crews managed to guide it safely into port.
“This investigation is important for all parties involved to understand why this occurred and where we can improve in future,” CEO Jodie Ransom said. Fremantle Ports has conducted an underwater survey to identify any obstructions, with inner harbour shipping movements expected to resume today. A Berth and part of B Berth remain closed to the public.
Dave George: “Total incompetence from the port authorities who are responsible for these vessels entering the harbour”.
John Boat: “It’s painful watching it! Brings tears to my eyes. My son went on a 7 day adventure on the Leeuwin. I doubt she will sail again.”
Isabella Fuller: “What a disaster OMG just lucky no one was hurt from what I hear.”
Tony Carroll: “Ouch indeed. I heard the ship horn this morning. Didn’t realise it was going to be as serious as this.”
