Iconic sailing ship 'smashed to pieces' after container ship collision at Perth port

The collision with STS Leeuwin happened about 6am, as 332-metre container ship Maersk Shekou was coming in to berth at Fremantle Port, guided by four tug boats.

“Absolutely this is a rare occurrence for the port and we have very strict parameters that we’re constantly revising to ensure the port operates safely,” Fremantle Port Authority CEO Jodie Ransom said.

Sadly, Perth’s iconic ship was no match for the shipping container vessel, which is more than 300 times the Leeuwin’s weight.

The beloved boat’s masts were torn down, as the two crew attempted to flee.

The pair were asleep below deck and later taken to hospital for assessment, with one suffering a suspected broken arm.

“I was horrified,” Leeuwin Foundation chair Jay Weatherill told 9News.

“The damage also in my mind raises the very real risk that there could have been loss of life.”

The container ship also struck the Maritime Museum and pier with the museum remaining closed until 1pm, though the damage there was, luckily, largely superficial.

Port operations were brought to a standstill.

“There shouldn’t be any restrictions to the operation of the container vessel,” Ransom added.

“There is damage to the hull which may impact its ability to sail once she’s completed her cargo operations.”

It’s a mangled mess but the Leeuwin’s hull remained intact with the expectation the ship will be restored.

As for how much that will cost or how long that will take, that’s still unclear.

The Leeuwin has long been a fixture of Fremantle – launched in 1986, it’s Australia’s largest sail-training ship and has welcomed more than 40,000 students.

“I’m sure given the importance of this vessel to the West Australian community people will rally behind it and support it again into the future,” Weatherill said.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has been tasked with figuring out what went wrong, including whether or not a sudden squall was to blame.

Applecross man Sam was waiting to board the Rottnest Ferry from Fremantle when he came across the incident.

He said half a dozen tugboats were “buzzing around” trying to move the fully loaded container ship, but it wasn’t budging.

“The Leeuwin has been absolutely smashed to pieces,” he told 6PR Breakfast.

“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.”