Two injured after Singapore-flagged container ship hits Australian vessel in Perth

SINGAPORE: Two crew members on an Australian ship were injured on Friday (Aug 30) after it was hit by a Singapore-flagged container vessel at Perth’s Fremantle Port.
The container ship, Maersk Shekou, hit the stationary ship STS Leeuwin II at about 6.20am Singapore time, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement.
Maersk Shekou was moving into the harbour when the incident happened. The ship was assisted by four tugs and was under pilotage at the time, which means it was guided by a mariner through local waters.
STS Leeuwin II, Australia’s largest sail-training ship, was berthed at the port. Its mast collapsed after being hit.
The hull of the container ship was damaged.
The Maritime Museum’s roof was also reportedly damaged.
Two crew members on the Australian ship have been reported to suffer “some injuries”, said MPA, adding that the 26 crew members on the Singapore-flagged vessel are reported to be safe with no injuries.
Maersk Shekou is currently moored at berth in Fremantle Container Terminal to assist with Australian authorities’ investigations. No pollution was reported, said MPA.
The agency is in contact with the vessel manager and the Port of Fremantle Authority.
“As the flag state of Maersk Shekou, MPA will be investigating the incident,” it added.
The 55m-long STS Leeuwin II is owned and operated by the charity Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation.
The three-masted 1850s-style ship is used in sailing training for young people across Western Australia, according to ABC News.
Chairman of the foundation Jay Weatherill said the workers’ injuries were significant but not life-threatening, ABC News reported.
“They were on board the vessel, which is standard practice when the vessel is in berth,” he told reporters.
“Obviously they heard the damage as the ship collided with the Leeuwin, they came aboard from below deck … their injuries were sustained in seeking to get off the vessel.
“Obviously there is some pretty major trauma about the experience … no doubt there will be a sustainable period of recovery.”
He added that the STS Leeuwin II would not be sailing “any time soon”, and that there had been “catastrophic damage” to the mast and the rigging.
Fremantle Ports chief executive Jodie Ransom said an investigation was underway, ABC News reported.