MAERSK SHEKOU

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Interim factfinding report on the allision of the' Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle port published

An interim factfinding report on the allision of the' Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle on Aug 22, 2024, which was published on April 17, 2025, suggested that the vessel's helmsman and pilots were operating with different goals. The helmsman was actively steering to maintain a heading of 083 degrees, his last received helm order. Meanwhile, the pilots were trying to make an emergency turn to port, using full ahead thrust, assist tugs, bow thrusters and the port anchor, They unaware that their helmsman was applying starboard rudder to counteract them. Early on Aug 22, the 'Maersk ShekouÄ began heading inbound into Fremantle's harbour and took aboard two pilots. The primary pilot assigned for the transit was fatigued, so the backup pilot took charge during the master/pilot exchange. At about 06.10 a.m., as they entered the narrow entrance channel for the inner port, southwesterly winds picked up to about 40 knots on the starboard quarter. The ship began to swing to starboard. The pilot ordered the helmsman to steer 083; the helmsman correctly acknowledged the order at about 0613:45 a.m. This was the heading that the helmsman would try to maintain throughout the final minutes of the casualty sequence. At the time that the order was given, the helmsman had the rudder hard to port to counteract the effects of the strengthening wind. It wasn't enough to do the job, and the 'Maersk Shekou's heading was about four degrees off to starboard (087). The master suggested going to full ahead to increase steering forces, and at about 0614:34 a.m. the pilot agreed. There was a pier ahead, and they needed to turn to port fast in order to enter the harbor. With more power and a series of assist tug movements, the 'Maersk Shekou' began to swing back to port. As it swung back from 087 through 086, the helmsman moved to check the swing: he brought the helm to midships, then briefly to 33 degrees starboard. The vessel steadied up squarely on 083, the last ordered heading he had received, which was straight towards the pier. The pilot was unsure why the vessel had stopped swinging to port, and at 615:33 a.m. he told the secondary pilot that something was wrong. The secondary pilot had been on a phone conversation at the back of the bridge and had not been involved in the back-and-forth among the bridge team, but he interrupted the call and joined the decisionmaking process. Together, without checking in with the helmsman, they began working the assist tugs to try to turn Maersk Shekou to port. The rudder was amidships at this point, and the helmsman was maintaining a steady heading of 083.5 towards the moored tall ship 'Leeuwin II', now less than a ship length away, with the boxship full ahead and making seven knots. At 0615:54 a.m., the master put the bow thrusters full to port. At 0616:10 a.m., the secondary pilot ordered stop engines, then full astern, and the master ordered the crew to prepare to drop the port anchor. Beginning at 0616:21 a.m., as these emergency measures to turn to port were under way, the helmsman applied more starboard rudder to try to counteract the effort to turn to port. The rudder would be over to starboard as much as 29 degrees over the course of the next minute. At 0616:49 a.m., the engines reached full astern and the 'Maersk Shekou' began to slow. The anchor, tugs and bow thruster managed to start a swing to port, but not fast enough to avert an allision. At about 0618 a.m., the 'Maersk Shekou' hit the 'Leeuwin II' at about three knots. The 'Maersk Shekou' came to a full stop by about 0618:30 a.m., but continued to spin in place. The bow thrusters were still on full to port, and the ship was swinging to port at about 13 degrees per minute. At 0619:52 a.m., the master noted to the pilots that the bow thrusters were still running with full power to port, and the thrusters were shut down,but not quickly enough to prevent contact in the narrow confines of the harbour. 40 seconds later, a stack of containers on the 'Maersk Shekou's starboard quarter hit the roof of the Western Australia Maritime Museum. The ship's hull scraped along the wharf for a short distance, damaging the quayside and breaching a small section of the hull plating above the waterline. The ATSB continues its investigation and will release its full report, including its formal conclusions, when it has completed its review. Interim report: https://www.atsb.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/MO-2024-001%20Interim%20report.pdf

Container ship undergoing temporary repairs

The 'Maersk Shekou' was undergoing temporary repairs before its departure to Port Klang in Fremantle, but was approved to commence loading and unloading from the afternoon of Aug 30 at the North Quay. The ship’s anticipated departure for Port Klang was yet to be determined and required prior approval from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Fremantle Ports. The container ship was the subject of an underwater hull inspection on Sep 2. MEanwhile Fremantle Ports iwas working with the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation to provide safe access to the 'Leeuwin', so damaged spars and rigging can be removed or secured before the ship can be moved. An inspection of the 'Leeuwin' was conducted by Leeuwin staff on Aug 31, with no underwater damage identified, and the vessel’s watertight compartments secured. The vessel was under close supervision and currently remains at its home berth at the Victoria Quay. Both of the injured night watch crew members who were aboard the 'Leeuwin' when the incident happened were recovering well. Regular port operations in the Inner Harbour had resumed on the evening of Aug 30 after it was determined that there were no underwater obstructions or debris. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has started its investigation. Concerning the Maritime Museum roof, engineers conducted an early inspection on Aug 30 and determined that the damage to the roof was not structural but only to the cladding.

Container ship damaged in accident

Two sailors who were injured aboard the 'Leeuwin 2' when it was struck on Aug 30 have since been released from hospital. The sailors were below deck when the ship hit with the sailing vessel and their injuries happened as they scrambled to safety. The Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation chair and former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill said on Aug 31 the captain was able to board the ship and survey the damage. While it was too early to determine fully the extent of the damage, it appeared the hull was intact but there was catastrophic damage to the rigging, masts, spars and equipment on deck. The 'Maersk Shekou', which was being guided to its berth by two harbour pilots and four tugs, also struck the portside Western Australian Maritime Museum and an adjacent pier, causing damage to both. The bow struck the 'Leeuwin' and the vessel's stern hit a berth and the museum roof and suffered damage to its starboard side stern, which was breached. Fremantle Ports, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were investigating the incident. The vessel remained stationary in port as of Sep 2. Reports and photos: https://www.mandurahmail.com.au/story/8748736/injured-sailors-released-from-hospital-after-ship-crash/ https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/gallery?category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3752409?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest