MAERSK Shekou departed Fremantle just six days after being involved in the allision that saw STS Leeuwin II dismasted and requiring repairs.
The Singaporean-flagged container ship Maersk Shekou departed Fremantle on 5 September at approximately 2045 hours, with the incident having occurred around 0615 on 30 August.
Neil Stanbury, manager of government and public relations at Fremantle Ports, spoke to DCN and confirmed that Maersk Shekou had completed all intended cargo operations at the port’s Patrick terminal on 1 September.
Mr Stanbury further revealed that repairs to the damaged area of Maersk Shekou were completed in-harbour on 4 September.
The exact nature and extent of the vessel’s damage is at current unclear, though initial reports suggested she sustained some damage to her hull.
Though Maersk Shekou has departed Australian waters, investigations into the incident continue.
“The ATSB investigation is well under way, with Fremantle Ports providing its support. Fremantle Ports is also conducting its own parallel investigation,” Mr Stanbury said.
The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) also announced on the day of the incident that it would be conducting its own investigation, on account of Singapore being the flag-state for Maersk Shekou, though the MPA at the time of writing had made no further comment on the matter.
The extra days spent in Fremantle has impacted Maersk Shekou’s onward schedule, with its upcoming scheduled Sydney call having been omitted to assist schedule recovery.
Maersk announced following the incident that cargo originating in Sydney and scheduled to load on Maersk Shekou would be updated to load aboard Costa Rica Express or CMA CGM Tancredi.
Sydney transhipment cargo scheduled to load on Maersk Shekou would be re-planned to the earliest available connection, while Sydney imports scheduled to load at the South-East Asia hubs will be updated to the next available vessel, the shipping line said.
Maersk Shekou’s initial adjusted schedule from ANL showed a 7 September arrival to Malaysia’s Port Klang, the vessel’s next scheduled call. However, having spent days Fremantle following this schedule update, MarineTraffic now has her arriving at Port Klang for 12 September.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill, currently chair of the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, said the foundation would look at what was required to get the ship back into working order, including potential for an insurance claim.
However, Mr Weatherill reportedly could not confirm whether Leeuwin II’s insurance would be sufficient to cover the total cost of the damage.
In the days following the allision the Leeuwin Foundation updated its website to ask the public for donations to assist the vessel’s cause.
