Two men injured after STS Leeuwin is hit by large container ship at Fremantle Port

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A large container ship has caused major damage to the Leeuwin tall ship in Fremantle Port, injuring two men. There's now an investigation into how the vessel ended up on the wrong side of the port.

Transcript

00:00Two crew members were on the tall ship when it was struck by the 332 metre vessel just

00:07after 6am.

00:08And there's been an incident where the vessel has struck the Luan, that's the sailing ship

00:13Luan, tied up alongside here.

00:15The bow of the Mersk vessel has struck the Luan and the stern of the Mersk vessel has

00:20made a slight impact with the maritime museum and a berth.

00:25The container ship had two pilots on board and was being guided by tugs.

00:29It's been suggested it was hit by a squall.

00:32At the moment we're not clear on what has happened, there will be an investigation,

00:36there will be outside investigators come and join us and we'll come out with full details

00:42of what's happened within the port.

00:43The two crew members on the Luan were on night watch.

00:46They heard the damage as the ship collided with the Luan.

00:51As I understand it their injuries were sustained in seeking to get off the vessel.

00:58So they are significant and obviously there are some pretty major trauma as well about

01:04just the experience.

01:05Looking at the damage it's clear that the two crew members were lucky to escape with

01:09their lives.

01:10But the hull is intact and it's hoped it won't be too long before the Luan is back out on

01:15the high seas.

01:16We first need to understand the nature and extent of the damage, whether it can actually

01:19be repaired.

01:20So it will depend on the integrity of the hull.

01:22At the moment the only thing that's obvious to us is that there's been a catastrophic

01:28destruction of the mast and rigging.

01:30The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating with assistance from the Maritime

01:34Safety Authority and Fremantle Ports.

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