Two crew members of an Australian sail-powered training ship have been reported injured after their vessel was hit by an AP Moller-Maersk container ship.
The incident took place in the Port of Fremantle on Friday morning when the Singapore-flagged, 8,814-teu Maersk Shekou (built 2010) was in collision with the docked 236-gt Leeuwin II (built 1986), according to a statement released by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) later in the day.
“The Maersk Shekou was proceeding into the harbour under pilotage, assisted by four tugs when it struck the STS Leeuwin II, which was at berth. It was reported that a maritime museum’s roof was also damaged in the incident,” the MPA said.
The allision caused the three masts of the Leeuwin II to collapse, injuring two night watchmen on board the ship, local media reported. They were subsequently taken to hospital.
The MPA said the post-panamax Maersk Shekou, which suffered some hull damage, is currently moored at a berth in the Fremantle Container Terminal. Its 26 crew members were said to be safe and uninjured.
No pollution has been reported.
Singapore’s maritime regulator said that it will assist Australian investigators.
Australian media reports speculate that the Maersk Shekou may have been hit by a sudden wind squall.
Fremantle’s inner harbour was recently closed to shipping traffic for safety reasons due to bad weather and reopened on Sunday morning.
Protection and indemnity coverage for the Maersk Shekou is provided by the Britannia P&I club.
