Tuesday 19 March 2024

South Africa: Venerable, Henrequetta, Rover, Eagle Wing & Qu-Importe IV shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Ulan shipwreck in Walvis Bay, Namibia

February 22:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1840: Venerable, this wooden brig wrecked near Struisbaai in the Western Cape at night.
1844: Henrequetta, this schooner (outfitted for slaving) was taken as a prize by the HMS Thunderbolt and was subsequently condemned and broken up in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It arrived in Table Bay on the 2nd of February, with 30 enslaved people having lost their lives at sea. The vessel was sold on this day and broken up.
1863: Rover, this sailing vessel, wrecked in thick fog at Blaauwbergstrand in Table Bay in the Western Cape.
1879: Eagle Wing, this wooden a schooner wrecked in gale on Quoin Point in the Western Cape with only three of its crew of seven surviving.
1998: Qu-Importe IV, this yacht foundered off Yzerfontein in the Western Cape after the captain was washed overboard.
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Monday 18 March 2024

South Africa: Mauritius Eiland, Trafalgar, Claudine, Abdul Medjid, Mendi & Cape Recife shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 21:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1644: Mauritius Eiland, this Dutch wooden sailing vessel sailed around the southern end of Robben Island in the Western Cape in the dark and then ran aground at what is today known as Mouille Point on the 7th of February. The vessel was dragged off the rocks to be repaired, but worsening weather resulted in it running aground again and becoming a wreck at the Salt River Mouth on this day, where the remaining crew of about 100, reduced from the original 340 had to wait for four months before being rescued by the Tijger. 

1839: Trafalgar, this British emigrant ship wrecked near Rocklands Bay (next to Three Anchor Bay) in Cape Town in the Western Cape after missing its stays and dragging its anchor in a heavy swell. The crew and passengers were saved, but a woman was killed by a falling mast.

1849: Claudine, this British wooden barque wrecked between Marthapunt and Ryspunt near Skipskop in the Overberg in the Western Cape. Its bell was reportedly salvaged and used in the Struisbaai church up until at least 1952. 

1871: Abdul Medjid, this iron sailing vessel was wrecked when its cables parted in a south easterly gale in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. 

1917: Mendi, this British steam-powered troopship was accidentally rammed on its starboard side by the royal mail steamer, the Darro, at about 05:00 in the morning in heavy fog, just off the Isle of Wight in the English Channel between England and France.

The Mendi Memorial on the 11th of February 2024 after the annual commemoration service

On board were 823 men, most of whom were part of the South African Native Labour Contingent.

Images depicting the last time that some of the men who boarded the SS Mendi (1917) would have spent on southern African soil. The top image shows them at the docks in Cape Town and the bottom image receiving training at the Rosebank Showgrounds, which today forms part of UCT's Lower Campus and is where the Mendi Memorial National Heritage Site is located

This vessel does not lie in South Africa’s territorial waters, but of the close to 650 people who perished in the event, 616 of them were southern African, and the bravery that these men showed at the time makes the sinking of the Mendi an integral part of southern African shipwreck history.

The SS Mendi (1917), date and location unknown

There are at least six known memorials in South Africa, one of which, at the University of Cape Town’s Lower Campus, is a declared National Heritage Site. 

1929: Cape Recife, this steel steam-powered freighter wrecked on rocks in dense fog west of Seal Point Lighthouse near Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape.

The Cape Recife (1929), shortly after wrecking

The wreck can be dived, being on average about 10 m in depth, but with most of it having been salvaged, there is only scattered wreckage still visible.

The Annual Mendi Memorial Commemoration held on the 11th of February 2024 at UCT's Lower Campus at the Mendi Memorial National Heritage site

Image 3:



There are seventeen plaques on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton listing the names of those lost in the sinking of SS Mendi

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Sunday 17 March 2024

South Africa: Grundel, Deutan & Johan shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Winston shipwreck in Namibia

February 20:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1673: Grundel, this Dutch East India Company Hoeker wrecked near Cape Hangklip between Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay in the Western Cape. An attempt was made on its return from Batavia to stop and to take on water in Madagascar, but the French had taken occupation of the island and drove off the Dutch with gunfire. They made a dash for the Cape with the captain being wounded by the French. They managed to come close, wrecking on the other side of False Bay, near Cape Hangklip. The captain and two others rowed the ship’s boat across False Bay to find assistance on its western shore. One of these men died of exhaustion, but the captain and the other crew member survived and beached the boat. A party was sent to rescue those left behind - some of whom had started walking along the eastern coastline of False Bay. They were found by the Goudvinck, which rescued the remainder of the survivors. The Grundel is believed to have operated as a packet at the Cape a few years earlier with it having surveyed the southern coastline of South Africa in 1669 and 1670. 

1863: Deutan, this Spanish vessel was put into Table Bay in the Western Cape for water but was instead condemned and broken up. Very little is known about it.

1882: Johan, this Swedish sailing barque wrecked near Orient Beach in East London in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale.

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Saturday 16 March 2024

South Africa: Hugelia & Southern Explorer shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Montrose shipwreck in Namibia

February 19:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1913: Hugelia, this iron steam-powered fishing trawler wrecked just west of the Keiskamma River mouth near Hamburg in the Eastern Cape. 

1985: Southern Explorer, this South African fishing vessel struck rocks near Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape and promptly foundered.

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Friday 15 March 2024

South Africa: Panaghia, Rijnmond IV, President Kruger & Jenny-Lee shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 18:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1938: Panaghia, this steel steam-powered freighter wrecked in Seal Bay, in Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape due to dense fog.

The Panaghia (1938) shortly after having run aground

Its boilers can reportedly still be seen at low tide.

1980: Rijnmond IV, this South African fishing vessel capsized and foundered about 30 km west of Cape Point in the Western Cape.

1982: President Kruger, this South African Naval frigate sank whilst on exercise 139 km southwest of the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. In the early morning hours of the 18th February 1982, President Kruger was conducting anti-submarine exercises with the President Pretorius, Emily Hobhouse, and the Tafelberg.

The SAS President Kruger (1982), date and location unknown

During the exercise it executed an incorrect turn which resulted in the Tafelberg’s bow ramming its port side. The captain ordered "abandon ship" at 04:36. The exercise was immediately terminated, and the other ships present began rescue operations. A total of 177 crewmen of the 193 aboard were rescued. There is a model display of the vessel and some artefacts from the event at the SA Navy Museum in Simon's Town.

The SAS Tafelberg with a badly damaged bow after the collision with the President Kruger (1982)

1992: Jenny-Lee, this South African tuna-fishing vessel foundered about 100 km west of Lamberts Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape after being struck by giant waves. All on board were rescued.

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Thursday 14 March 2024

South Africa: Euridyce, Cheldale, Deer Lodge, Llanashe & Wayward shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 17:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1857: Euridyce, this brig wrecked on North End beach in Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted during a south-easterly gale and the Euridyce struck the barque Alexandrina.

1940: Cheldale, this British steel steam-powered cargo ship was lost north east of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal after a collision with the Greystoke Castle. The Cheldale was steaming slowly towards Durban so as not to arrive before dawn and was apparently showing no lights.

The Cheldale (1940), date and location unknown

It was rammed between its No. 1 and 2 hatches, heeled steeply to the starboard, capsized, and sank within minutes with a huge gash in its side. Of the 35 lives on board, 16 were lost and the survivors were picked up by the Greystoke Castle.

1943: U-boats claimed two vessels in South African waters on this day, off the Eastern Cape coast:

• Deer Lodge, an unescorted American steam-powered merchant ship, was struck on its port side by two torpedoes fired from U-516 about 100 km from Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

The Deer Lodge (1943), date and location unknown

There were 57 lives on board of which 56 abandoned ship in three lifeboats and three rafts, with one person losing their life when a davit broke off a lifeboat and fell on him. The U-boat surfaced between the survivors, questioned them, and left. The survivors were picked up by the Africana, the Havorn, and the Atlantis, with the Deer Lodge foundering just off Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

• Llanashe, this motor-powered cargo ship was torpedoed 50 km south of Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape by U-182. After being struck, it signalled that its crew were taking to the boats. The radio officer managed to send off the position in which the ship sank. Several life rafts hit the water, but only one of the lifeboats was launched. The men were in the water for several hours before making it onto the rafts.

The Llanashe (1943), date and location unknown

It took more than two days for the lifeboat to find a single raft, and it took a further 9 days before the Tarakan found the lifeboat and the other rafts. Of the 42 that were on board, only 16 managed to make it onto the life rafts and lifeboat. However, over the 11 days of waiting for rescue, some of the rafts capsized several times and ultimately only nine survived the ordeal. The Tarakan transferred the nine survivors to the HMS Carthage and HMS Racehorse which landed them in Cape Town on the 4th of March.

1966: Wayward, this South African fishing vessel foundered at sea off the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast.

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Wednesday 13 March 2024

South Africa: Stavenisse, Bennebroek, Amelia Mulholland, Mary, Lucy, Elise, Olive & Ankoveld shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Simferopol shipwreck in Namibia

February 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1686: Stavenisse, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked at what is presumed to be near the Mzimkulu River mouth at Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal resulting in the loss of eleven lives from the crew of 71. The rest of the crew encountered survivors of the Good Hope (1685) and the Bona Ventura (1686). They worked together to build the boat ‘Centaurus’ which was officially launched on the 17th of February, 1687. On the first of March 1687, they safely arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Governor at the time, Simon van der Stel, had the Centaurus refitted and sent back to look for more survivors of other wrecks.

1713: Bennebroek, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked near the Mtana River near Hamburg in the Eastern Cape. The vessel was disabled in a gale while homeward bound from Ceylon. It ran aground in broad daylight and began to break up immediately. Of the 150 lives on board, only 57 Europeans and 20 enslaved people from Malabar (south-western India) managed to reach the shore. The survivors started walking to the Cape, but most turned back after reaching an unfordable river. Of those that continued, only one (although some sources suggest up to five) person(s) reached the Cape alive on the 26th of February 1714, more than a year after the wrecking. Those who turned back lived near the wreck until June 1713, trading iron and copper for food with the local people, who treated the survivors with kindness. When this supply was exhausted the survivors made another attempt to reach the Cape, but after several weeks the survivors, now reportedly only consisting of 7 Europeans, found refuge with another friendly group of local people. On the 4th of September 1714, an English decked boat reached the Cape from Delagoa Bay with 4 of these 7 survivors on board. They had been found living in a local village near the mouth of a river. A subsequent six-month search by the galiot Postlooper for the wreck and remaining 3 survivors was unsuccessful. Although there are some reports that claim in 1716 three Englishmen were reported to be living on that coastline with wives and children and it is possible that these three men were those last three survivors. The wreck was excavated in 1985 under a National Monument’s Council permit. 

1850: Amelia Mulholland, this wooden barque wrecked at Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale.

1853: Mary, this schooner wrecked in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape during a south-easterly gale after its cables parted. One life was lost during the event. 

1864: Lucy, this vessel wrecked during a south-easterly gale, at night, on Birkenhead Rock at Danger Point near Gansbaai in the Western Cape. 

1878: A south-easterly gale claimed two vessels on this day in East London in the Eastern Cape: 

• Elise, a wooden barque wrecked near the mouth of the Buffalo river,

• Olive, an unknown vessel type, wrecked on East Beach with the loss of all six of the crew. 

2019: Ankoveld, this South African fishing vessel capsized near St Helena Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape. All 10 that were on board were rescued.

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Tuesday 12 March 2024

South Africa: L’Aigle & Johanna shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Suiderkus shipwreck in Namibia in 1978

February 15:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1834: L’Aigle, this wooden French whaler ran aground at Slangkop Beach near Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape and wrecked. Three lives were lost because of the wrecking. There is speculation that some packed stones on the hills just south of the lighthouse is actually an unmarked grave of one of those lost and that the campsite name of ‘De Anker’ at the Soetwater Resort comes from this vessel’s anchor that lies near the tidal pool. 

1881: Johanna, this schooner lost its cables in a south-easterly gale and drifted onto the notorious bight of North End beach in Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape and wrecked. All made it off safely, but the vessel went to pieces soon after in the heavy swell.

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Monday 11 March 2024

South Africa: Lady Holland, Childe Harold & Otto Siedle shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 13:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1830: Lady Holland, this wooden vessel struck a reef north-east of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape and wrecked. Its passengers and crew made it onto Dassen Island using the boats before being rescued.

1850: Childe Harold, this sailing vessel wrecked on the south-eastern point of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape just after midnight. The captain was the only casualty, who drowned trying to swim a line to shore.

1981: Otto Siedle, this tug was scuttled by the SA Navy about 100km north west of Cape Town in the Western Cape in about 2.5 km deep water.

A view of Dassen Island from the north. SAHRA database contains 24 entries for wrecking events near the island, with the earliest recorded wrecking being in 1734 and the most recent in 2002

The tug was decommissioned, stripped of all valuable material, and then donated to the SA Navy who used it for torpedo target practice for the SAS Maria van Riebeeck. The tug had served for 43 years in various roles, most commonly on the modern-day Namibian coastline where it assisted many stricken vessels.

The tug Otto Siedle (1981), date and location unknown (suspected Cape Town)

There is also a story that tells of the tug’s master playing a practical joke on the Italian liner Europa’s passengers by rigging a skeleton to make it appear as though the tug was being steered by the skeleton as it pulled up alongside the Europa in Walvis Bay in Namibia.

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Sunday 10 March 2024

South Africa: Robert, Mary Ann, Cilicia & Nideras shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 12:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1847: Robert, this British ship sprang a leak and had to be run ashore near the Lourens River mouth at Strand in False Bay in the Western Cape, where it wrecked. Some of the houses in the area were reportedly built with its main cargo of teak from Burma.  

1888: Mary Ann, this wooden barque came into Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape for the captain to receive medical attention and for repairs to the vessel on January 6th. However, on the 5th of February the vessel was condemned and put up, to be sold on the 16th of February. This was not to happen, as on this day, it slipped its anchor cable in a south-easterly gale and was wrecked on North End Beach. 

1917: Cilicia, this British steel steam-powered freighter struck a mine laid by the German raider, SMS Wolf, about 8 km south of Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

The Cilicia (1917) depicted on a French postcard, date and location unknown

The tugs Ludwig Weiner and J W Sauer towed it towards Cape Town, but it foundered near Robben Island. All on board were saved.

The minefield laid by the SMS Wolf on the 16th January 1917 that claimed the Cilicia (1917)

1929: Nideras, this South African iron steam-powered fishing vessel was lost in the passage of Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape during thick fog after attempting to change its fishing grounds. One of its crew perished during the wrecking.

2002: J&D Aviation HS-125-400B (registration no. ZS-JBA), this business jet was written off after rolling into a ditch at Lanseria Airport in Gauteng. The hydraulic accumulator was not pressurised and after the co-pilot removed the chocks, braking attempts failed.

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