Overview
- The report, released Monday, identifies a missed instruction to turn into the inner harbour and ineffective bridge-team monitoring as key failures.
- The secondary harbour pilot was engaged in a non‑essential phone call at a critical stage, leaving the lapse in orders undetected.
- Maersk Shekou entered in darkness contrary to port rules, with winds up to 54 knots and conditions worse than forecast not effectively factored into planning.
- The 333‑metre container ship struck the berthed Leeuwin II, dismasting it and injuring two crew, then hit the WA Maritime Museum roof and scraped the wharf, gouging a 1.8‑metre hole in its hull.
- ATSB simulations showed the transit could be completed safely under similar conditions, and Fremantle Ports has updated procedures, training and weather monitoring as Leeuwin II returns to service in early 2026.