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.
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