Ineffective Bridge Resource Management Contributed to Maersk Ship Collision

Ineffective coordination and monitoring by the crew and harbour pilots on board the container ship Maersk Shekou contributed to its collision with the tall ship Leeuwin II in the Port of Fremantle, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found.

The 333-metre, Singapore-flagged Maersk Shekou was being navigated into Fremantle under the direction of two harbour pilots in heavy squall conditions before dawn on August 30, 2024, when the incident occurred.

Audio from the ship’s bridge, taken from the vessel data recorder, found the primary pilot did not provide the helmsman with a planned port 10° helm order to turn into the inner harbour, which went undetected by the rest of the bridge team.

This meant that as the pilot attempted to use the main engine and four attached tugs to turn the ship, the helmsman attempted to maintain the ship on the previously instructed heading of 083°, rigorously opposing the ship’s planned turn.

As a result, the Maersk Shekou continued towards Victoria Quay and collided with the Leeuwin II, which was berthed at the quay, before the stern contacted the wharf edge and containers struck the roof of the WA Maritime Museum.

The Leeuwin II was dismasted and two