Both vessels in the western Australian port, general cargoship AAL Fremantle and car carrier Grand Pioneer were both involved in cargo operations when a squall with gusts of 110 km an hour hit the port.
“Although the mooring lines at the bow of the ships held good, the ships swung out at the stern,” Fremantle Ports said in a statement.
“The stern of AAL Fremantle came in contact with scaffolding on the Fremantle Rail Bridge and one of the power poles on the bridge subsequently fell into the harbour.”
The two vessels were returned safely to berth in the early hours of Monday morning.
Rail services on the bridge have been suspended until further notice, and the extent of the damage is being assessed by the Public Transport Authority.
“Fremantle Ports has begun an immediate investigation into engineering and other aspects of the shipping incident,” the port said.
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