Check out - Leeuwin crash - as sailing vessel dismasted in Fremantle Port by errant Container Ship,caught in a squall,supposedly under control of 3 tugs/2pilots !! Also, took swipe at Maritime Museum
Saw her yesterday,and afloat,on even keel,at the wharf . Deck stewn with rigging + topmast (?) impaled to bow of ship .

Tragic! Mast destroyed, rigging torn apart and cross spars all snapped. Still unclear if there is structural hull damage.

Photos don't show much in the way of scrapes on the hull, so fingers crossed she's structurally OK.

Time for some early morning speculation.

-Early reports are saying a strong gust/squall caused her to deviat and collide during her turn.

- But when the crash occurred the wind was WSW, not from the north.
Maybe it pushed the ship east and caused her to overshoot the turn?

Also, wasn't this the same port where they were conducting industrial action last week?

Was at 6am friday , in the dark , and only 100 m from Rottnest ferry terminal . Luckily,they do not berth there overnight !

Also, do the ferries have priority,as a tight channel ?- in newcastle coal ships are king,as nowhereto go but the dredged channel,and other
watercraft only tolerated .

Remember one NYE Fireworks,on the foreshore, postponed as the ship came in !

Some analysis of the incident here.

Select to expand quote

Planter said..

Also, do the ferries have priority,as a tight channel ?- in newcastle coal ships are king,as nowhereto go but the dredged channel,and other
watercraft only tolerated .

nup. They have to call through to the port authority and let them know they're about to enter the port area. On occasion the port authority will require them to steer clear of shipping movements. Very rarely they are told to hold off.

fremantle port isn't really a small area. Theres generally plenty of room for everyone to navigate through. No "restricted by draft" moments for a ferry.

The comparison between the two entries shows that maybe she was getting set to the NE by wind. North of track until well inside the port and trying to regain to the south when on previous track she was already commencing turn to north.

So maybe not a big gust preventing her from turning, but instead fouling her approach enough to prevent proper manoeuvre.

Interesting to see how weather affects vessels of all sizes

Seems like we'll have to wait to this time next year to see the report of one official investigation: www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2024/report/mo-2024-001

Sounds like the hull may be OK

An update, Sal goes through the ATSB report verrrry thoroughly.

Key take away, helmsman wasn't given a new course to steer after pilot coordinated with tugs to assist getting back on to 084 degrees.

They were expecting to continue bringing ships head around to port to a NE course, but as soon as the heading matched last ordered course the helmsman put counter wheel on to steady on 084.

Very lucky not to have been much worse collision!