National

Famous tall ship hit by container ship

By AAP Newswire

Aug 30, 2024

The Leeuwin tall ship at Fremantle Harbour in WA. — Two men were taken to hospital after a container ship ran into tall ship Leeuwin at Fremantle. -AAP Image

A container ship has dismasted a famous tall ship and clipped a portside museum building while attempting to berth in Fremantle.

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Two workers aboard Australia's largest sail-training tall ship Leeuwin, which has an overall length of 55 metres, were taken to hospital.

Fremantle Ports says the 332-metre container vessel was coming into the port to berth about 6.30am on Friday when it hit the three-masted 1850's-style tall ship.

"It's a terrible incident ... the two fellows who were on night watch on the Leeuwin they've been taken to hospital," spokesman Neil Stanbury told Perth radio station 6PR.

"One may have minor injuries, perhaps a broken arm, but they're both okay, and we're very glad about that."

Mr Stanbury said Leeuwin had been dismasted but the hull remained intact.

"It's a pretty messy scene," he said.

He said the container ship, the Maersk Shekou, had also struck the Western Australian Maritime Museum.

An investigation will be launched into the incident.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press