South Africa: King George IV, Sir James Saumarez, Vine, Howard, Kate, Jonquille, Petronella & Almira Coombs shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1824: King George IV, this wooden-hulled vessel was abandoned after encountering rough seas, and later in the day it was driven ashore in St. Sebastian Bay in the Western Cape. One report indicates that it wrecked 5 km north-east of Kleinfontein, however, no such farm exists in the vicinity today and it is possible that it rather wrecked near the modern-day Kleinjongesfontein Nature Reserve, but more research is needed to determine this accurately.

A rough line of where the coastline was before the Foreshore of Cape Town was reclaimed in the 1930s-1940s. Several wrecks lie beneath this land many of which have been discovered during developments

1831: A north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape claimed two vessels on this day:

• Sir James Saumarez (Sir Thomas Saumarz in one report), this wooden-hulled brig ran ashore on Woodstock Beach. It was condemned thereafter, and its remains now lie beneath reclaimed land.

• Vine, this wooden-hulled brig parted from its 5 anchors and ran ashore on Woodstock Beach. It was also condemned thereafter, with its remains now lying beneath reclaimed land.

1840: Howard, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked in a north-westerly gale near the Castle on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Its remains lie beneath reclaimed land today.  Several wrecks lie beneath this land many of which have been discovered during developments.

1849: Kate, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked at night in a south-easterly gale in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.

1868: Jonquille, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked on the eponymous Jonquille rock in Hondeklip Bay in the Northern Cape.

1878: A south-easterly gale in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape claimed two wooden-hulled barques on this day:

• Petronella, came into the bay in distress but ultimately wrecked.

• Almira Coombs, wrecked somewhere in the bay.

1953: A SAAF Douglas DC-3 (registration no. 6846) crashed at the Johannesburg-Rand Germiston Airport during a military exercise. Very little is known about it.

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South Africa: Alfred, Minerva, Sir Henry Pottinger, Il Travatore, Sedan, Aristea, Panther & Fong Chung No. 11 shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 4:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1830: Alfred, this wooden British barque was condemned after it was driven ashore in a north-westerly gale at Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1850: Minerva, this wooden British frigate wrecked on a reef after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Although none of those on board lost their lives, one of the rescuers from another vessel lost his life. The Minerva was bringing 280 British immigrants to settle in the area.

1860: Sir Henry Pottinger, this British barque wrecked in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1870: Il Travatore, this vessel wrecked near the Groen River mouth in the Northern Cape. Very little is known about this vessel.

1879: Sedan, this German barque caught alight and foundered about 20 km off Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

The Aristea (1945) is an awesome sight, with its massive boiler and remains slowly rusting away

1945: Aristea, this South African steam-powered trawler wrecked near Hondeklip Bay in the the wrecking, the captain was too drunk to navigate the waters around Hondeklip Bay and ran it aground accidentally. One of the crew of 24 lost his life. The remains make for an interesting sight.

The sign that used to be at the wreck site of the Aristea (1945) in about 2009. It is believed that this sign is no longer there having succumbed to the elements

1947: Panther, this South African whaler was towed out to sea and scuttled off Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. It served as a whaler, a tug, a fishing vessel, as well as a pleasure boat over its nearly 50-year lifespan.

What remained of the Fong Chung No. 11 (1975) at Robben Island in 2014

1975: Fong Chung No. 11, this Taiwanese tuna boat struck a rock in fog and was ran aground on Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape where it became a wreck. Its remains are still visible.

Comments:

Mike Klee

The Sedan lies in about 18 meters of water off Port Elizabeth. It is nowhere near Bird Island.

She was carrying a cargo of railway sleepers, which sleepers clearly show evidence of the terrible fire that took the life of this ship.

Lying on a sandy bottom, the wreck is remarkably intact and is a paradise for crayfish and other marine life.

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South Africa: Santíssimo Sacramento, Fijenoord, Diligence, Carl Max, Garthforce, Seafarer, Pino & Frotis shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1647: Santíssimo Sacramento, this Portuguese galleon wrecked at Cannon Bay, just west of Schoenmakerskop in the Eastern Cape at the eponymous Sacramento trail. It was sailing with the Nossa Senhora de Atalaia do Pinheiro in rough conditions when they became separated with the Sacaremento having tattered sails and losing its rudder, causing it to wreck at Pinnacle Reef near the shore.

The cannon that can be seen at the Sacramento trail pointing towards where the Santíssimo Sacramento (1647) wrecked

Only about 72 people survived the wrecking event and eventually decided to take the overland journey to Lorenco Marques (modern-day Maputo). These survivors met up with survivors of the Nossa Senhora de Atalaia do Pinheiro (which had met a similar fate a few days later). On the 5th of January 1648, this party finally reached Lorenco Marques, although many perished along the way and it is believed that less than 10 survivors that made it came from the Sacramento wrecking event. The Sacramento was carrying 60 bronze cannon, many destined for India at the time, of which 40 were salvaged in 1977. One of these was dubbed the ‘Miracle Cannon’ because of its pristine condition. Examples of these cannon can be found all around the area, such as at the start of the Sacramento trail and at Bayworld Museum.

One of the Sacramento anchors, still visible after 377 years

1736: Fijenoord, this wooden Dutch brigantine was driven ashore and wrecked in Table Bay in the Western Cape late at night. One life was lost during the wrecking event. The Fijenoord had been used as a salvage vessel for work on the wrecks of the Merestein (1702) and the De Hoop (1734).

1863: Diligence, this South African schooner wrecked after becoming becalmed near Hondeklip Bay in the Northern Cape.

1874: Carl Max, this schooner collided with the Laetitia and sank near the Kowie River in the Eastern Cape.

1927: Garthforce, this three-masted ship struck an iceberg on 10th October 1921 and was brought into Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. There it was hulked in the harbour for a few years until it was towed out to sea and scuttled on this day.

The Garthforce (1927), under its previous name of the Celtic Glen, date and location unknown

1966: Seafarer, this South African cargo liner ran aground on the rocks off Sea Point in Cape Town in the Western Cape and broke its back, becoming a wreck. All lives on board were airlifted off and there was no loss of life.

The Seafarer (1966) aground at Three Anchor Bay near the Greenpoint lighthouse in Cape Town in the Western Cape. This image captured one of the three rescue helicopters above the wreck, which were successful in rescuing all that were on board

1972: Pino, this South African fishing vessel was under tow due to a power failure when it came loose and foundered near Robben Island in the Western Cape. A few days later, wreckage and the bodies of those lost washed up at Green Point.

A dramatic image showing the Seafarer (1966) with its broken back

1993: Frotis, this South African yacht foundered near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Nightingale, Hercules, Queen of the West, L'Aigle, Bernicia, Snorre Straulassen, Umzimkulu, Columbine & Arosa shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1722: Nightingale, this British East Indiaman, along with nine other vessels, broke adrift from its moorings in a north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It was the only vessel that wrecked on this day after beaching near the castle, with the other nine vessels wrecking the next day. Although it was carrying 140 people, only one person died during the wrecking.

1796: Hercules, supposedly, this American East Indiaman sprang a leak and lost its rudder in a fierce gale, causing it to be run ashore and wrecking somewhere along the Eastern Cape shoreline. Possible locations include near the Birha River, the Kieskamma River, or another theory is that this wreck never occurred and was actually a fabrication as the captain’s narrative appeared dubious when he reported the loss.

1850: A south-easterly gale near Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape claimed two vessels:

• Queen of the West, this wooden Canadian ship wrecked near the Tsitsikamma River. There were no survivors, with 30 bodies eventually being found washed up on the shore.

• L'Aigle, this wooden French barque wrecked on rocks about 4 km west of Klippen Point. The captain as well as one passenger and seven of the crew drowned whilst 10 people survived.

1861: Bernicia, this wooden British barque wrecked in a north-westerly gale off Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Seven lives were lost because of the wrecking.

1875: Snorre Straulassen, this Norwegian brig wrecked in a south-westerly gale when its anchor cables parted near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

1883: Umzimkulu, this British coaster, while crossing the bar to leave the Breede River in the Western Cape, wrecked after three successive big waves toppled it.

1937: Earl of Caledon, this South African Airways Junkers Ju 52 (registration no. ZS-AKY) suffered a loss of power to both engines after taking off from the Rand Airport in Gauteng, resulting in it crashing and the plane being engulfed in flames. Although everyone made it out of the wreckage, one female passenger later succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash. According to our records, this is the second plane to have ever wrecked in South Africa, and the first to have a loss of life associated with it.

1944: Columbine, this South African steam-powered merchant ship was torpedoed and sunk at night by the German submarine U-198, 40km off the Vredenburg Peninsula in the Western Cape.

The Columbine (1944) under one of its former names "Admiral Laws" in Vancouver

Of the 52 people on board only 29 survived. It sank so suddenly that no distress call was sent out and its fate was only discovered some days later when a lifeboat was picked up.

The Arosa (1976) on the 30th of June, still stuck on the reef. There were apparently a few attempts made at refloating it

1976: Arosa, this Cyprian freighter wrecked on rocks between Hondeklip Bay and Kleinsee in the Northern Cape.

What remained visible of the Arosa (1976) after a few years

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South Africa: Drietal Handelaars, Alicia Jane, Tonga, Queen, R A C Smith, Gilia & New Mexico shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history” 

1789: Drietal Handelaars, this wooden Dutch Frigate dragged its anchors in a south-easterly gale and wrecked on rocks in False Bay in the Western Cape.

A pen drawing of the Drietal Handelaars (1789), finished as a watercolour, in 1789 by Hendrik Jansen Nagtegaal

1845: Alicia Jane, this wooden sailing brig was loading guano when its cables parted in a north-westerly gale and it was blown ashore on Paternoster beach in the Western Cape where it is assumed to have become a wreck.

1875: Tonga, this wooden British sailing schooner was driven onto rocks just north of the Lovu/Illovu River in KwaZulu-Natal. After being salvaged, a small store was erected near the stream where it wrecked, and its cargo was sold to locals who came from far and wide. It is believed that this is the reason the area today is called “Winkelspruit”, which translates from Afrikaans to ‘stream-store.’

1882: Queen, this South African sailing schooner was transporting a cargo of grain when it wrecked near Hondeklipbaai (Hondeklip Bay) in the Northern Cape.

1898: R A C Smith, this wooden American sailing barquentine wrecked on account of a faulty compass in very heavy weather near the Sundays River mouth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. The captain and second mate were lost during the wrecking event.

1973: Gilia, this motor-powered fishing vessel collided with the Oceano Antarctico about 10 km west of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape and the Gilia promptly foundered.

1988: An Avex Dornier DO.28D Skyservant (registration no. ZS-PRW) encountered engine failure over Mossel Bay in the Western Cape and during the forced landing, struck the roof of a house, with the airplane crashing and being written off. The fates of any occupants are unknown.

An image of ZS-PRW, date and location unknown

2002: New Mexico, this South African fishing vessel wrecked on Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Francesca, Hermes, Piratiny, Horizon, Barcelona & Flee shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 12:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1882: Francesca, this wooden Italian sailing barque sprang a leak and was beached at Orient Beach in East London in the Eastern Cape and it is believed to have become a wreck.

1901: Hermes, this British steam-powered passenger/cargo ship dragged its anchors and was driven ashore on Milnerton Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape, where it became a wreck.

The Hermes (1901) shortly after it wrecked, before being reduced by the power of the surf

It had travelled from Argentina with a cargo of general stores and some livestock. Two female passengers drowned when a lifeboat overturned. The wreck now lies near the wreck of the Winton (1934) and it can still be seen from the shore and in aerial photographs.

The boiler of the Hermes (1901) that sticks out the most, November 2021. One can see inside of it and that it is heavily encrusted with marine life.

The NSRI regularly receives reports of a distressed whale at the wreck location as the spray created by its boiler looks like the blow from a whale.

A stunning aerial image of the Hermes (1901) captured in 2015

1943: Piratiny, this steel Brazilian steam-powered cargo ship was on its final voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Table Bay when it wrecked near Hondeklip Bay in the Northern Cape because of a storm.

The Piratiny (1943) slowly rusting away

Rumours at the time claimed that it was lost because of being torpedoed by the Germans. Its remains are still visible on the shore, forming part of the Diamond Coast Shipwreck 4x4 trail.

1967: Horizon, this motor-powered Dutch freighter ran aground and wrecked at full speed when the second mate fell asleep at the helm, at the Mngazi River mouth near Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape.

The Horizon (1967) being battered by waves shortly after having run aground

1973: Barcelona, this South African fishing vessel wrecked in heavy fog near Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape.  

2017: Flee, this South African yacht wrecked at 16-mile beach, north of Yzerfontein off the west coast in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Maria & Iolite shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

March 21:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1862: Maria, this wooden sailing vessel (cutter-rigged) wrecked on the sand bar at Hondeklip Bay with the loss of one life.

1969: Iolite, this South African fishing vessel was scuttled on this day in False Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Noord, Linnaeus, Atlas, Arab, Luna, Shin Yung & Madame shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

January 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1690: Noord, this VOC wooden sailing galiot wrecked at Klippen Point near Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape. The Noord was on its second voyage to search for survivors of the Stavenisse, when it found three of them at the Bay of Natal. It crossed the bar there and was the first recorded ship to have moored in the Bay of Natal. On its way back to Cape Town it struck Klippen Point and wrecked. The entire crew survived the wrecking and reportedly abandoned the stricken vessel during low tide without even getting their feet wet. After unloading some cargo, the choice was made to head to Cape Town overland on foot. The survivors split into smaller parties and only five of the 19 ever made it back to Cape Town, with the rest believed to have lost their lives along the way.

1834: Linnaeus, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on a reef off Dyer Island in the Western Cape.

1859: Atlas, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on the eponymous Atlas Reef, about 10km north-west of Arniston/Waenhuiskrans in the Western Cape. It was on a return trip from Batavia with sugar, rice, nutmegs, hides, and sundries.

1891: Arab, this British iron steam-powered ship wrecked after striking an unknown rock near the Great Fish River mouth in the Eastern Cape. 

1901: HMS Sybille, this British Naval cruiser was used as a patrol boat at Lamberts Bay on the west coast in the Western Cape during the Anglo Boer war when it was lost.

SAHRA interpretive signage in Lamberts Bay detailing the HMS Sybille (1901) wreck

A north-westerly gale forced part of the crew that were on board to leave the anchorage at Lamberts Bay and to battle the heavy seas. In the early hours of the morning, unaware that their position was more southerly than they expected, they struck a reef opposite the farm Steenbokfontein whilst steaming back to Lamberts Bay.

A British officer's sketch ( J Nash) of the HMS Sybille (1901) wrecking event. Date unknown.

The City of Cambridge had just left Lamberts Bay and spotted the incident so could render assistance as the wrecking unfolded. One life was lost during the event. In recent years the wreck was the subject to some salvage work. One of the propellers was donated to SAHRA and is now on display at the Sandveld Museum in Lamberts Bay.

The one surviving propeller of the HMS Sybille (1901) after being transported from the wreck site to Lamberts Bay before being prepared for display

1945: Luna, this South African coaster was mysteriously lost off Hondeklip Bay with all eight that were on board.  

1972: Shin Yung, this Taiwanese motor-powered fishing vessel foundered about 80 km west of Saldanha Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape.

1973: Madame, this Australian yacht wrecked during misty weather on Saxon Reef, just off Arniston/Waenhuiskrans in the Western Cape.

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Namibia: Atlantic West Coast shipwrecks: "Hondeklip" & "Hope" | Кораблекрушения Намибии

Namibia: West Coast shipwrecks: "Hondeklip" & "Hope" | Кораблекрушения у западного побережья Намибии

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SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

SHIPWRECKS

42. "Hondeklip"

Date: July 1928

Meob Bay

The accident reason: fire on board.

43. "Hope"

Date: 14.05.1804

South of Walvis Bay

In 1804 the American whaler Hope was lost just south of Sandwich Harbour. Except for two survivors who were rescued in the Sandwich Harbour lagoon, all crew members were murdered by Strandlopers.

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