Leeuwin tall ship crushed by container ship in WA’s Fremantle Port
WA’s iconic Leeuwin tall ship has been crushed by a container vessel at Fremantle Port.
It is understood the STS Leeuwin II — the country’s biggest sail-training ship with an overall length of 55m — was extensively damaged in the incident early on Friday.
Photographs have emerged of the aftermath showing the Leeuwin as a crumpled mess, masts struck down.
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A man in his 20s and a man in his 60s were taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman said the authority was aware of the collision.
“AMSA is monitoring the situation and will begin enquiries in relation to the incident as the morning unfolds,” he said.
A caller to 6PR said he saw the Leeuwin in pieces on his way to Rottnest Island.
“The Leeuwin has been absolutely smashed to pieces,” he said.
“None of its mast is standing and it’s listing over and hanging over onto the port.
“That container ship has come into the port and smashed into the Leeuwin.
“They’ve dropped the anchor to try and halt it and now they can’t get the anchor back up. It must be lodged on the bottom.”
Fremantle Ports government and public relations manager Neil Stanbury said the container ship was coming into the port to berth when it hit the Leeuwin.
“It’s a terrible incident,” he said. “Unfortunately, the two fellows who were on night shift on the Leeuwin have been taken to hospital.
Mr Stanbury said there was hope the ship’s hull had been left largely undamaged.
“Perhaps just the rigging has been taken down,” he said.
“The stern of the container ship also appears to have struck the superstructure of the Maritime Museum, only in a minor way.”
The container ship, understood to be 332m long, appeared to have a huge gash on its side as it was being guided away from the scene by a tugboat.
An investigation into what happened will be conducted.
