Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Maersk-Shekou

A combative mix of inadequate coordination and oversight by the crew and harbor pilots aboard the 'Maersk Shekou' has been pinpointed as the catalyst behind its collision with the tall ship 'Leeuwin II' on August 30, 2024, at Fremantle port, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) comprehensive investigation report. On that fateful night, the container ship was being maneuvered into the port amid challenging squall conditions before dawn, under the watch of two harbor pilots. Audio recordings captured from the ship’s bridge via the vessel data recorder revealed a crucial lapse: the primary pilot neglected to issue a planned port 10° helm order to the helmsman for the turn into the inner harbor. This oversight went unnoticed by other bridge team members, resulting in a critical misalignment. While the pilot attempted to maneuver the vessel using the main engine and four tugboats, the helmsman mistakenly maintained the previously directed heading of 083°, directly opposing the intended turn. Consequently, the 'Maersk Shekou' veered towards Victoria Quay and collided with the docked 'Leeuwin II', causing the stern to strike the wharf edge while containers from the deck collided with the roof of the WA Maritime Museum. Fortunately, the container ship suffered only minor damages, including a hull breach, and both the crew of the 'Maersk Shekou' and the pilots were unharmed. The ATSB's investigation underscored significant shortcomings in the bridge resource management practices employed by the vessel's team, which included the two pilots and the crew. There was a lack of a collective understanding of the necessary actions during the crucial navigation across the inner harbor entrance, with the team failing to properly monitor or challenge the ship's course and position within the channel. Furthermore, it was revealed that the secondary pilot was distracted from their critical monitoring responsibilities due to a non-essential mobile phone call at a pivotal moment in the ship's passage. Compounding the situation, the delay in securing the supporting tugs meant that the bridge team—including the pilot—was preoccupied with the attachment of the final tug as the ship reached the crucial turning point for the channel. In a remarkable tale of community resilience, just over a year after its near-demise, the 'Leeuwin II' is set to sail once more. Thanks to a dedicated local effort, the ship's restoration was completed, culminating in a vibrant homecoming celebration at Victoria Quay on October 24, 2025.

The STS 'Leeuwin II', a beloved sail training vessel, is now in the repair phase following a damaging allision with the container ship 'Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle Port during a fierce storm nine months ago. Despite the incident, the vessel's diesel engine and steering gear remained intact, ensuring the ship was still seaworthy. On May 19, 2025, the 'Leeuwin II' was safely escorted by a tug from its B Shed quayside location to the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, where it was placed in dry dock for extensive repairs and refitting. While the hull of the ship has shown resilience, particular attention will be given to the area where the mast is secured during inspections in dry dock. To aid the restoration process, 3,000 lineal metres of Douglas Fir have been sourced from Canada, along with vast amounts of wire and rope from various suppliers across Australia. The aim is to have the 'Leeuwin II' ready to sail for the upcoming summer season, with discussions regarding insurance claims nearing conclusion, although the total cost of the damage is yet to be finalized. The ship is anticipated to be back in the water by December, marking a hopeful return for the iconic maritime vessel. For more insights and photographs, visit: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/fremantle/sts-leeuwin-ii-iconic-tall-ship-smashed-in-container-ship-catastrophe-leaves-fremantle-to-begin-repairs-c-18740833

A preliminary fact-finding report regarding the allision of the 'Maersk Shekou' at Fremantle on August 22, 2024, was unveiled on April 17, 2025. The investigation revealed a critical communication breakdown between the vessel's helmsman and the pilots, both of whom were not aligned in their operational objectives. While the helmsman steered with the last helm order of 083 degrees, the pilots endeavored to execute an emergency left turn using maximum forward thrust, assist tugs, bow thrusters, and the port anchor, unaware that the helmsman was maneuvering the rudder to the right in an attempt to counter their actions. Early that morning, as the 'Maersk Shekou' made its approach to Fremantle's harbor, two pilots boarded the vessel. The main pilot, experiencing fatigue, was replaced by a backup pilot during the handover process. At around 6:10 a.m., as the vessel entered the constricted channel leading into the inner port, strong southwesterly winds reached speeds of 40 knots on the starboard side, causing the ship to veer to the right. The pilot issued a command for the helmsman to maintain a heading of 083 degrees, which the helmsman acknowledged at approximately 6:13:45 a.m. However, to counter the increasing wind, the helmsman had set the rudder hard to port, but this was inadequate, pushing the vessel's heading to 087 degrees. The captain recommended going to full ahead to enhance steering effectiveness, which the pilot concurred with around 6:14:34 a.m. As the 'Maersk Shekou' accelerated and the assist tugs worked to guide the vessel back to port, the helmsman adjusted the helm to midships before briefly turning it to 33 degrees starboard. The vessel aligned itself squarely on the last heading commanded but remained on a collision course with the moored tall ship 'Leeuwin II.' At 6:15:54 a.m., the captain activated the bow thrusters to port, and shortly thereafter, the secondary pilot ordered the engines to stop and then go full astern. As emergency maneuvers commenced at 6:16:21 a.m., the helmsman applied additional starboard rudder, pushing it to 29 degrees over the next minute. By 6:16:49 a.m., the engines were running in reverse, and although the ship began to decelerate, the measures taken came too late to prevent an allision. At approximately 6:18 a.m., the 'Maersk Shekou' collided with the 'Leeuwin II' at a speed of about three knots. The vessel came to a halt by around 6:18:30 a.m. but continued to spin, resulting in damage to both the quayside and the ship's hull. The ATSB (Australian Transport Safety Bureau) is actively pursuing its investigation and will disclose a comprehensive final report along with its official conclusions once the review is fully completed. For further details, the interim report is available at: https://www.atsb.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/MO-2024-001%20Interim%20report.pdf

The container ship 'Maersk Shekou' is currently undergoing essential temporary repairs at North Quay in Fremantle, where it received approval to start loading and unloading operations on the afternoon of August 30. While the ship is preparing for its journey to Port Klang, the exact departure timeline remains uncertain, pending the necessary approvals from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Fremantle Ports. On September 2, an underwater inspection of the vessel’s hull was carried out, ensuring its structural integrity. In parallel, Fremantle Ports has coordinated with the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation to facilitate safe access for the 'Leeuwin', enabling the secure removal or stabilization of any damaged spars and rigging prior to its relocation. An inspection performed by the Leeuwin staff on August 31 revealed no underwater damage to the 'Leeuwin', and all watertight compartments have been secured. This vessel is currently under strict supervision and remains docked at its home berth at Victoria Quay. Fortunately, both crew members on night watch aboard the 'Leeuwin' during the incident are reported to be recovering well. By the evening of August 30, regular port activities in the Inner Harbour resumed after confirming that no underwater debris or obstructions were present. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. Furthermore, engineers assessed the Maritime Museum's roof on August 30, concluding that the damage was superficial and limited to the cladding, with no structural issues identified.