South Africa: Colebrooke, Duke of Northumberland, Delphi, Laura, Seagull, Dorothea, Eastern Star, Surprise, Southern Cross & Pluto shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Natal Coast wrecked in Namibia

August 25:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1778: Colebrooke, this wooden-hulled British East Indiaman struck an uncharted rock at the time, probably Anvil Rock off Cape Point, and entered False Bay in the Western Cape in a foundering state. Its master decided to run it ashore on the eastern side of False Bay in an effort to save the ship. They managed to make it to Kogel Bay Beach where they ran it aground in the surf. Fifteen of the crew tried to reach the shore in a lifeboat, and it capsized with either 6 or 7 people perishing. Other vessels that were in convoy with the Colebrooke rendered assistance but many of its crew and passengers were forced to spend the night on board the stricken vessel. The following morning, conditions allowed for another lifeboat to be launched and all were gotten off safely. The wreck and what remained of its cargo was later sold.

1838: Duke of Northumberland, this wooden-hulled East Indiaman wrecked at the eponymous Northumberland Point in Struisbaai in the Western Cape.

1843: A south easterly gale in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape claimed three vessels on this day (and another the following day):  

• Delphi, a wooden hulled barque that wrecked after its cables parted with one of its crew perishing. 

• Laura, a wooden hulled brig that was driven ashore to become a wreck after having struck the Seagull, and then the composite jetty made from the remains of the Feejee, destroying the latter.

• Seagull, a wooden hulled brig that wrecked after striking the composite jetty made from the remains of the Feejee, upon which 11 of the Seagull’s crew jumped and then those 11 drowned when the Laura also smashed into it and broke it.

1853: Dorothea, this sailing vessel wrecked on Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Very little is known about this vessel, other than a single body was found strapped to its mast and that the wreck was reported to the Colonial Office in Cape Town on the 28th of August.

1880: An easterly gale in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal claimed two vessels on this day: 

• Eastern Star, a wooden hulled brig that wrecked on the north side of the Breakwater in Durban harbour. 

• Surprise, a sailing barque that wrecked on Back Beach after its cables parted. It was driven too high up on the beach to be refloated and was condemned and broken up.

1881: Southern Cross, this sailing barque’s cargo of coal caught alight, and it was towed into Table Bay in the Western Cape and scuttled off Robben Island.

1943: A Dutch Navy Consolidated Catalina (registration no. Y-84) was conducting anti-submarine patrols in Southern Cape waters when it exhausted its fuel supply, and an emergency landing had to be performed off Cape Agulhas. The crew survived, but the floating plane was damaged beyond repair and was sunk using gunfire from a ship.

1967: Pluto, this motor powered fishing vessel foundered southeast of Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape. 

1974: Shian Feng Chang No. 12, this Taiwanese fishing vessel was scuttled north west of Robben Island in the Western Cape.

2001: Four Cats, this South African ski boat capsized and sank about 150 m off Dassen Island in the Westen Cape.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia

South Africa: Nieuwe Rhoon, Sir John St Aubyn, James Shepherd, Bismarck, Reistad, Dorothea, Harry Mundahl, Magnet & Bluff shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

January 31:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1776: Nieuwe Rhoon, this wooden sailing vessel struck whale rock in Table Bay in a south-easterly gale and was badly damaged. It was towed and subsequently beached at the Castle Jetty in Table Bay in the Western Cape, where its cargo was unloaded, and it was left to become a wreck.

Aerial shot of the excavation of the Nieuwe Rhoon (1776) in the Foreshore of Cape Town in 1971

In 1970 during the construction of the Civic Centre building at the foreshore in Cape Town the remains of a wooden ship were uncovered. The subsequent excavation by the city’s building inspector, Bob Lightly, in 1971 revealed a section of the hull had survived partly covered by ballast consisting of iron shot. The excavation included the exposure of, and good written and drawn records of the timbers.

The Foreshore during the excavation of the Nieuwe Rhoon (1776). Construction of the Civic Centre in 1971

Good quality photos taken during the excavation have also been of particular benefit. The artefacts recovered were relatively scarce and consisted of clay pipes, Chinese porcelain, glazed pottery, and peppercorns. These artefacts tentatively dated the ship to wrecking during the mid-18th century. The position of the wreck, lying at right angles to the old shoreline, and its location near to where an old wooden jetty is recorded indicates that it was deliberately beached. The lack of artefacts also indicates that there was plenty of time to empty its hull, thereby indicating that it did not wreck suddenly. Records show that a Dutch ship, the Nieuwe Rhoon was deliberately beached in Cape Town in 1776.

Archaeologists excavating and exposing timbers of the Nieuwe Rhoon (1776) in 1971 in the Foreshore

Therefore, Lightly concluded that the wreck uncovered at the Civic Centre was that of the Nieuwe Rhoon. The excavation was the first of its kind in South Africa and was important in showing that early wrecks can survive in a good state of preservation beneath reclaimed land.

1843: Sir John St Aubyn, this paddle-wheel driven steam-powered tug wrecked whilst towing the Sophia over the Kowie River bar in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. Although the Sophia also went down during this event, it was refloated and remained in service for another 10 years.

1851: James Shepherd, this wooden sailing barque wrecked near Still Bay in the Western Cape.

1873: Bismarck, this iron steam-powered coaster wrecked on Madagascar Reef about 14 km southwest of the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape. It is often state that the Bismarck was the first steamer to have crossed the bar of the Buffalo River. Its bell is housed at the East London Museum.

1897: Reistad, this wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south-easterly gale in Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. After its cables parted it was driven ashore, where it wrecked, and it even fouled the Norwegian barque Arnguda’s anchor in the process.

1898: Dorothea, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked near Cape Vidal in KwaZulu-Natal. It sprang a leak and was abandoned to be driven ashore, after which it broke in two.

1901: Harry Mundahl, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked at Anchor Bay in Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal.

1916: Magnet, this sailing (in some reports a steam-powered) sealer/Robben Island packet wrecked at Hout Bay Harbour in Hout Bay in the Western Cape. Whilst passing through the entrance in a gale and a heavy swell in an attempt to find shelter, the ebb tide set it on the shore where it remained fast and wrecked.

1965: Bluff, this steam-powered trawler wrecked in thick fog whilst returning to Cape Town from the fishing ground, just south of Bakoven, off Victoria Road in the Western Cape. The cook drowned whilst the rest of the crew survived. During WWII, the Bluff served as a minesweeper for the South African Navy.

www.traveltonamibia.com
YouTube: Exploring Namibia TV

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com

Telegram: ExploringNamibia