STS Leeuwin II

Sail training ship based in Fremantle, Western Australia

History
STS Leeuwin II leaving port from Fremantle Port, Western Australia
Australia
Name	Leeuwin II
Builder	Australian Shipbuilding Industries Pty Ltd
Launched	2 August 1986
Stricken	August 30, 2024
Identification	IMO number: 8510855 MMSI number: 503042000 Callsign: VNWB
Status	Inactive - Damaged
General characteristics
Type	Barquentine
Displacement	344 tonnes (339 long tons)
Length	55 m (180 ft) overall 40 m (130 ft) on deck
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 m² (8,700 sq ft) area
Complement	5 permanent crew 10 volunteers 40 trainees

The STS Leeuwin II is a tall ship based in Fremantle, Western Australia used for sail training for youths.

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.^{[citation needed]} It is operated by Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation, a non-profit organisation that runs youth training voyages along the West Australian coast.^[1]

It has been utilised in special sailings in journeys on the Australian coastline.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] 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.^[6]

On 30 August 2024, a large container ship, the Maersk Shekou, collided with the Leeuwin while entering Fremantle port.^[7] The collision brought down the ship's masts and injured two people on watch aboard the Leeuwin.^[8]^[9]

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.