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STS Leeuwin II
Sail training ship based in Fremantle, Western Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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STS Leeuwin II is a tall ship based in Fremantle, Western Australia, used for sail training for youths. The vessel was launched on 2 August 1986.
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Design and construction
The Leeuwin II is a three-masted barquentine, named after the Dutch galleon Leeuwin which mapped the south-west coast of Australia in 1622. It was built to a design by local naval architect Len Randell by Australian Shipbuilding Industries Pty Ltd (now BAE Systems Australia) and launched on 2 August 1986.[citation needed] It is operated by Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, a non-profit organisation that runs youth training voyages along the West Australian coast.[1] The ship's overall length is 55 metres (180 ft 5 in) and its beam 9 metres (29 ft 6 in). The hull is welded steel with a teak deck. The main mast is 33 metres (108 ft 3 in) tall and, when fully rigged, the ship carries over 810 square metres (8,700 sq ft) of sails. A full crew consists of 55 people, consisting of 5 permanent crew, up to 10 volunteers (including four watch leaders, a bosun's mate, cook's mate and purser), and 40 participants. The watch leaders take control of the four watch groups and lead the trainees through activities and ship duties on voyages of three days and more.
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Service history
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It has been utilised in special sailings in journeys on the Australian coastline.[2][3][4][5] In 2012, the ship had a major refit at a cost of around $3.5 million.[6]
Collision
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On 30 August 2024, the 141,076 ton displacement[7] container ship Maersk Shekou, while entering the harbour of Fremantle, Australia, collided with the moored Leeuwin II.[8] The allision brought down the ship's masts and injured two people on watch aboard Leeuwin II.[9][10]
The Maersk Shekou also struck the Maritime Museum lightly and the wharf's corner, causing a hull breach on her starboard aft, of about 1.84 by 0.51 metres (6.0 by 1.7 ft).[7][11]
Maersk Shekou out of control
Having waited a week with the port shut for bad weather, the Maersk Shekou was sailing for inner Fremantle Harbour at 6 AM. On approach, southwesterly winds were often 20-30 knots, peaking at 54 knots. Four tugboats were attached, and the rear two were pulling to reduce the ship's speed (8.6 knots at 6:11). Right as she neared the harbour mouth, (and its following port-turn), the wind picked up, with persistent relative speeds of 40 knots off her starboard quarter.[7]
The Maersk Shekou began to pull slowly to starboard. The helmsman needed to apply increasing port rudder, until even at hard-to-port, she still turned slowly starboard. With tug-boats pulling sideways and the Shekou's engine at full-ahead to increase rudder authority, began to turn to port, however the helmsman, unobserved by the bridgecrew, put the rudder amidships, and briefly to starboard, stopping the port turn. With less than a ship's length between the Shekou and the Leeuwin, the bow thrusters were engaged and the engine set to full-astern, she started to turn to port, despite the helmsman's continued starboard and amidships steering.[7]
The tugboat Svitzer Falcon abandoned her position (off the Shekou's starboard shoulder) for fear of being crushed between the ship and Victoria Quay, readying her gangway for an emergency exit onto the wharf, but manoeuvred clear.[7]
At 6:18, the Maersk Shekou impacted the Leeuwin with her starboard flare, at a speed of about 3 knots. Left swinging to port, the tugboats worked to pull the Shekou to a stop before her stern would impact the WA Maritime Museum. She struck it anyway, at 6:20, with containers on her poop deck, and her hull striking the wharf.[7]
The Shekou was brought to the harbour's centre, and berthed at 9:30. It appears the helmsman was not given new orders until after the Leeuwin-allision and continued to steer to maintain the original heading until the impact.[7]
Repair effort
The Leeuwin II's hull remained intact and watertight, and repair work is ongoing.[12] The ship was cleared of debris and sailed again for a short shakedown on 24 October 2024, albeit bereft of her mast and rigging.[13]
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References
External links
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