 STS Leeuwin II leaving port from Fremantle Port, Western Australia
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Leeuwin II |
| Builder | Australian Shipbuilding Industries Pty Ltd |
| Launched | 2 August 1986 |
| Stricken | August 30, 2024 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Inactive - Damaged |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Barquentine |
| Displacement | 344 tonnes (339 long tons) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Height | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Draught | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Propulsion | Auxiliary: 2 x Yanmar engines |
| Sail plan | 16 sails, 810 m (8,700 sq ft) area |
| Complement |
|
The STS Leeuwin II is a tall ship based in Fremantle, Western Australia used for sail training for youths.
Design and role
The Leeuwin is a three-masted barquentine, named after the Dutch galleon Leeuwin which mapped the south-west coast of Australia in 1622. It was built to a design by local naval architect Len Randell by Australian Shipbuilding Industries Pty Ltd (now BAE Systems Australia) and launched on 2 August 1986. It is operated by Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, a non-profit organisation that runs youth training voyages along the West Australian coast.
It has been utilised in special sailings in journeys on the Australian coastline. The ship's overall length is 55 metres (180 ft) and its beam 9 metres (30 ft). The hull is welded steel with a teak deck. The main mast is 33 metres (108 ft) tall and, when fully rigged, the ship carries over 810 square metres (8,700 sq ft) of sails. A full crew consists of 55 people, consisting of 5 permanent crew, up to 10 volunteers (including four watch leaders, a bosun's mate, cook's mate and purser), and 40 participants. The watch leaders take control of the four watch groups and lead the trainees through activities and ship duties on voyages of three days and more.
In 2012, the ship had a major refit at a cost of around $3.5 million.
Collision
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On 30 August 2024, a 109,000 tonne DWT container ship, the Maersk Shekou, collided with the Leeuwin while entering Fremantle port. The collision brought down the ship's masts and injured two people on watch aboard the Leeuwin.
The Leeuwin's hull remained intact and watertight, and repair work is ongoing. The Maersk Shekou, for some 40 minutes out of control, also struck the Maritime Museum lightly. She suffered a gash on her starboard aft where she struck the Leeuwin.
The ship was cleared of debris and sailed again for a short shakedown on 24 October 2024, albeit bereft of her mast and riggings.
See also
References
- Emery, Kate (9 July 2023). "Leeuwin floundering in rough seas after CEO's shock exit". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- "Eco-Adventure Voyage / Broome - Darwin Aboard S.T.S. Leeuwin II", Nature based tourism, Western Australia, 1995, retrieved 31 August 2024
- Ebbs, Michelle (7 February 2005), Notre Dame on the high seas, ResearchOnline@ND, retrieved 31 August 2024
- Ebbs, Michelle (10 December 2008), Ultimate Challenge Voyage for Fremantle medicine students, ResearchOnline@ND, retrieved 31 August 2024
- Ashworth, Dianne; Deakin University. Faculty of Arts and Education; Deakin University. School of Humanities and Social Sciences (2013), Relating trainees’ personal development to their Leeuwin II ocean adventure, retrieved 31 August 2024
- Bastians, Kate (30 October 2012). "Leeuwin back on high seas". The West Australian. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- "Maersk Shekou". Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- Mundy, Garrett (30 August 2024). "Several injured in Leeuwin accident at Fremantle port". ABC News. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- "Leeuwin demasted crew injured maritime museum struck by Maersk-Shekou". Fremantle Shipping News. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- Price, Lauren (26 September 2024). "Leeuwin update: Iconic ship one step closer to setting sail after damaged parts removed from ship". The West Australian. The West Australian. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- Price, Lauren; de Ruyte, Troy (30 August 2024). "Leeuwin tall ship smashed into, wrecked by container ship in Fremantle Port". The West Australian.
- Zis, Matt (24 October 2024). "Damaged Leeuwin to set sail again". PerthNow (Western Suburbs ed.). Community Newspaper Group. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
External links
- Sail Leeuwin The Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation homepage
Media related to Leeuwin II at Wikimedia Commons
2025