Leeuwin Smash - Fremantle

1 year ago
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Planter
Planter
NSW
184 posts
NSW, 184 posts
1 Sep 2024 7:16am
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 .
Bushdog
Bushdog
SA
313 posts
SA, 313 posts
1 Sep 2024 9:03am
Tragic! Mast destroyed, rigging torn apart and cross spars all snapped. Still unclear if there is structural hull damage.
D3
D3
WA
1577 posts
D3 D3
WA, 1577 posts
1 Sep 2024 2:19pm
Photos don't show much in the way of scrapes on the hull, so fingers crossed she's structurally OK.
D3
D3
WA
1577 posts
D3 D3
WA, 1577 posts
2 Sep 2024 5:05am
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?
Planter
Planter
NSW
184 posts
NSW, 184 posts
2 Sep 2024 7:35am
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 !
SeanTsv
SeanTsv
QLD
26 posts
QLD, 26 posts
2 Sep 2024 1:12pm
Some analysis of the incident here.
Subsonic
Subsonic
WA
3415 posts
WA, 3415 posts
2 Sep 2024 5:19pm
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.
D3
D3
WA
1577 posts
D3 D3
WA, 1577 posts
2 Sep 2024 5:27pm
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
Quixotic
Quixotic
ACT
237 posts
ACT, 237 posts
4 Sep 2024 9:15am
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
D3
D3
WA
1577 posts
D3 D3
WA, 1577 posts
9 Sep 2024 5:26pm
Sounds like the hull may be OK


D3
D3
WA
1577 posts
D3 D3
WA, 1577 posts
29 Apr 2025 4:24pm
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!

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