South Africa: Le Victor, Martha, Suffolk & Flatdog shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Unknown wreck in Walvis Bay, Namibia

September 24:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1782: Le Victor, this wooden sailing corvette wrecked in a north-westerly gale at the Salt River mouth in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Records indicate that ‘nearly’ all aboard were saved, but the exact number of casualties is unknown. The wreck now lies beneath reclaimed land.

1826: Martha, this wooden sailing brig wrecked on the eponymous Martha Reef at Martha Point northeast of Arniston/Waenhuiskrans in the Western Cape.

1900: Suffolk, this four-masted steel steam-powered ship wrecked west of Cape St Francis near Tsitsikamma Point in the Eastern Cape after striking a reef and its holds flooding. A smaller steamer, the Lake Erie, was passing nearby and rescued all that were on board. However, the 900 horses that were being transported were left on board the ship, which disappeared below the waves later in the day. Wreckage washed up as far west as the Great Brak River and later investigations by the authorities found that many of the farm houses had used timber from the wreck that had washed up as there was a Troop letter stamped into the timber used for the horse stalls which made identification quite easy.

1996: Flatdog, this South African yacht collided with a fishing vessel in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape and whilst being towed back for repairs, it foundered.

2009: A SA Airlink British Aerospace Jetstream 41 (registration no. ZS-NRM) suffered an engine failure shortly after taking from Durban International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal and crash landed about 1.6 km from its takeoff runway in the Merebank residential area, skidding through an electrical pole, over a road, and eventually coming to rest against a concrete palisade. The two pilots and one flight attendant on board were seriously injured, with the one pilot succumbing to his injuries on the 7th of October. The wing of the airplane also clipped a member of the public who was seriously injured.

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South Africa: Benjamin, Royal William, St. Mungo, Charlotte & Piscataqua shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Unknown ship in Walvis Bay, Namibia

September 20:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1800: Benjamin, this wooden sailing sloop wrecked in Gordon's Bay in False Bay in the Western Cape with the loss of all hands.

1837: Royal William, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked off Green Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape whilst trying to enter Table Bay at night.

1844: St. Mungo, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on the eponymous St. Mungo Point near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape. Of the 17 strong crew, ten were lost.

1854: Charlotte, this 3-masted wooden sailing troopship wrecked on the rocks near Jetty Street in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. They attempted to enter Table Bay for provisions but due to adverse winds sailed into Algoa Bay and anchored there on the 19th of September. The cables parted in a south-easterly gale at night and although at first it seemed that they would manage to sail out the storm, more of its cables parted and after striking the rocks just below Jetty Street, the entire vessel started breaking up and sinking. The heavy seas inhibited most assistance from the shore and although some lines reached the troopship, owing to the Manby mortar, nobody noticed the wrecking event at first because of the dark. Those that survived managed to cling to the floating wreckage long enough to reach shore. Of the 227 that were on board, 117 lives were lost that day, 18 crewmen, 62 soldiers of the 27th Regiment, 11 women, and all 26 children. The wreck now lies beneath reclaimed land.

1865: Piscataqua, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked in Granger Bay in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Hemba, Enfants Nantais, Phoebe, Strathmore & Quoin shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

James Searle, Algoa Bay, South Africa

September 14:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1870: Hemba (or Hecuba), this iron vessel foundered after striking a rock in Struisbaai in the Western Cape.

1876: Enfants Nantais, this French sailing barque wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal after its cables parted in an east-north-easterly gale.

1880: Phoebe, this wooden lighter wrecked after striking the bar in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1880: Strathmore, this sailing barque was abandoned on this day off Duiker Point near Hout Bay in the Western Cape. Owing to bad weather, it had started leaking and its steering became unmanageable. It foundered shortly after being abandoned.

1950: Quoin, this whaler was scuttled off Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1996: Iolcos Victory, this 74 000-ton Cypriot ore carrier foundered about 200 km off Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. It had flooded in its no. 1, 2, and 3 holds. Of the crew of 25, sixteen were saved by a Japanese fishing vessel, five were lifted by helicopter to Port Elizabeth for medical care, and four, including the captain were never seen again.

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South Africa: Unity, Maron Neil, Hopefield Packet, Kerriefontein, Maranatha & Ikan Tanda shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

September 5:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1859: Unity, the area of the wrecking of this British wooden sailing brig is under question as different sources claim different areas in the Western Cape as the wrecking site, such as Dassen Island, Saldanha Bay, and Bellows Rock. The most likely explanation is that it was lost on Bellows Rock off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape and that its wreckage washed up as far north as Dassen Island and Saldanha Bay. The crew of ten and its 6 passengers were all lost.

1885: Maron Neil, this sailing barque wrecked on Orient Beach, just east of the Buffalo River, in East London in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted.

1888: Hopefield Packet, this sailing schooner ran aground and possibly wrecked in Paternoster Bay on the Vredenburg Peninsula in the Western Cape. It is possible that it was refloated.

1976: Kerriefontein, this South African fishing vessel foundered in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1986: Maranatha, this fishing trawler ran aground near the Gouritz River mouth in the Western Cape after having sprung a leak. The crew was assisted by the NSRI and it is possible that it was refloated.

Ikan Tanda

2001: Ikan Tanda, this Singaporean cargo carrier was driven ashore during a storm near Scarborough on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape after a fire broke out in its engine room and it lost power about 40 km outside of Cape Town. The crew were rescued by SAAF helicopters and the vessel was refloated by assistance from the tugs, John Ross and Wolraad Woltemade, which towed it 300 km out to sea to be scuttled, by order of the SAMSA.

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South Africa: Fairfield & Queenmoor shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

September 7:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1852: Fairfield, this wooden sailing ship was blown ashore and subsequently wrecked at the Mbango River mouth in Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. Of the 24 souls that were on board, seven managed to reach the shore where they were assisted by locals.

1934: Queenmoor, this steel steam-powered cargo freighter struck the rocks near Chelsea Point in dense fog off Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape. It was stuck on the rocks and only abandoned the following day when the tug, Sir David Hunter helped everyone off. Ten days later its back broke and the freighter started vanishing beneath the waves. Most of its cargo, which was timber from London destined for East London, floated ashore and was salved. The breaking up was captured on film and a short report on its wrecking was compiled by the BBC: https://youtu.be/7BPz0NulqbU

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South Africa: Advokate Schieande, Fernandos, Swamsee, Werner & Theo Rubis shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi wreck in Namibia

September 3:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1902: There is a record from a single source, four further wrecked vessels in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about these vessels, and it is possible that they were lighters that wrecked during, or shortly after the great storm that started on the 1st of September:

• Advokate Schieande

• Fernandos

• Swamsee

• Werner

1985: Theo Rubis, this motor-powered fishing vessel was scuttled by the SA Navy southeast of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

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South Africa: Brunswick, Locust, Luna, Lakme, Poseidon, Klipbok & Gemsbok shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

September 2:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1805: Brunswick, this wooden east Indiaman, which was a French prize ship at the time of its loss, wrecked on Long Beach in Simon's Bay in the Western Cape during a south-easterly gale. What remains of the wreck lies between 5-9 m in depth, just north of Long beach. The wreck has been formerly studied on at least three occasions, from the 90s, up until most recently in 2014.

1824: Locust, this wooden South African brig was abandoned to sink after incurring damage to its keel near the Breede River mouth in the Western Cape.

1881: Luna, this two-masted German brig wrecked after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1896: Lakme/Lakome, this wooden Norwegian barque struck Thunderbolt reef and foundered shortly after near Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape with the loss of one life.

1902: Poseidon, this wooden Norwegian barque dragged its anchors and was driven ashore to become a wreck in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape during a south easterly gale.

1970: Klipbok, this South African fishing vessel was swept out to sea on the 28th of August and was driven ashore near Bat’s Cave in East London in the Eastern Cape on this day to become a wreck.

1975: Gemsbok, this South African salvage vessel capsized and sank in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It was transferring an anchor chain with a cargo vessel when the chain snagged, and its weight dragged the vessel under. Eight lives were lost during the wrecking, and a few of their bodies were recovered by divers afterwards. It now makes for a popular technical dive site, lying at about 60 m in depth and being well intact, lying on its starboard side.

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South Africa: Agostino Rombo, Arnold, Michael Cavalieri, Clara, Constant, Content, Countess of Carnarvon, Emmanuel, Hermanos & Nautilus shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

September 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1902: A great south-easterly storm, resulted in the loss of at least 61 lives, the wrecking of 18 vessels, and the grounding of at least four vessels in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. This is the greatest loss of vessels in a single event in South African maritime history. The vessels that were refloated include the Coriolanus (1 life lost), the Elliot, the Gabrielle, and the Hans Wagner. An additional four men drowned after their line broke when they attempted to aid some of the vessels from the shore. Many of the vessels wrecked after being driven onto the hulk of the Queen Victoria (1896) which was lying near North End Beach.

• Agostino Rombo, an Italian wooden barque, wrecked after striking the sunken hulk of the Queen Victoria with the loss of life of 7 or 8.

• Arnold, a German iron barque, wrecked at North End beach.

• Cavalieri Michelle Russo/Michael Cavalieri, an Italian steel ship, wrecked at North End beach. Reports vary, on the exact the number of lives lost, but it is believed to have been between 17-19 with only 1 man surviving.

• Clara, a British tug, ran aground and was refloated on the day, but shortly after, the heavy seas ripped its rudder away and its chains were dragged onto North End beach where it became a total wreck.

• Constant, a Norwegian wooden barque, wrecked near the Arnold at North End beach.

• Content, a Norwegian wooden barque, wrecked at the North End beach next to the Emmanuel.

• Countess of Carnarvon, a British wooden steam-powered tug, ran aground and wrecked.

• Emmanuel, a German iron barque, wrecked at the North End beach next to the Content.

• Hermanos, a Norwegian wooden barque, struck the sunken hulk of the Queen Victoria and was wrecked with the loss of two lives.

• Inchcape Rock, a British fully rigged iron ship, wrecked opposite Darling Street and the wreck can be dived on, now lying at about 7m in depth.

• Iris, a German schooner, wrecked at North End beach when its cables parted.

• Limari, a Swedish iron barque, struck the sunken hulk of the Queen Victoria and was wrecked with the loss of 8 lives.

• Nautilus, a German iron barque, first struck the Hans Wagner, then the sunken hulk of the Queen Victoria and eventually the stranded Limari, and was wrecked with the loss of 12 lives.

• Oakworth, a British iron ship, wrecked at North End beach.

• Sayre, a British wooden barque, wrecked at the North End beach.

• Scotia, a British cargo steamer wrecked with the loss of two lives, although it may have been refloated. 

• Thekla, a German three-masted wooden schooner wrecked.

• Waimea, a Norwegian iron barque, struck the sunken hulk of the Queen Victoria and was wrecked with the loss of 8 lives.

1965: Claren, this British steam-powered ship was lost in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about it.

1974: Little Nook, this South African yacht wrecked near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Very little is known about it.

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South Africa: Prince Albert, Enchantress, Charmer & Lyndhurst shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Benguela Eagle shipwreck in Namibia

August 24:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1844: Prince Albert, this wooden-hulled brig wrecked after its cables parted during a south-easterly gale in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape.

1849: Enchantress, this wooden-hulled schooner missed its stays off Green Point and anchored shortly after, but its cables parted, and it was driven onto the rocks where it wrecked between Green Point and Mouille Point in the Western Cape.

1877: Charmer, this British full-rigged wooden ship wrecked on Dyer Island in the Western Cape.

1911: Lyndhurst, this steel-hulled four masted barque’s cargo of petrol caught alight and it was abandoned at sea about 100 km from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. Its floating wreck was scuttled on this day by the HMS Pandora as it posed a danger to navigation.

1974: An Emric Air Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (registration no. ZS-IZZ) crashed on this day near Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. Very little is known about this incident.

1998: An Airworld/Speed Service Couriers Turbo DC-3 (registration no. ZS-NKK) crashed during takeoff from Wonderboom airport in Gauteng resulting in the death of the pilot in command. The accident report found that there was no pre-flight inspection by the pilots and the elevator trim had been set to nose-up and not been returned to neutral by the maintenance engineer during an inspection. As a result, the pilot lost control of the aircraft during takeoff as the nose pitched up during a rotation movement.

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Namibia: The unsolved mystery of the Vlissingen

The unsolved mystery of the Vlissingen

Ultimately, Europe is the Mecca for treasure hunters. Conversely, when it comes to finding lost treasures Namibia unfortunately does not provide the same opportunities. Consequently, if the opportunity does arise to find any kind of possible treasure then my interest is immediately sparked.  Such an opportunity arose on a visit to Meob Bay which was determined to be the last resting place of the Vlissingen.  The treasures to look out for were 1746 copper coins (Duiten) and 1743 Silver Pillar Dollars.

On 9 January 1747, the 130 feet long United Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship Vlissingen left the Netherlands, on its 5th journey. Unfortunately for the Company and the 227 crew aboard, the vessel was never to return. Bearing in mind that the Vlissingen reported that many of its crew were already sick when still in the North Atlantic, it is highly likely that illness and death played a role in the demise of the vessel, besides the structural damage she had incurred. Bad weather at the time of crossing the Atlantic could have been another contributing factor. To this day the circumstances of her vanishing remains a mystery.

As part of her cargo she carried thousands of copper coins (Doits / Duiten) and an unidentified amount of silver dollars.

The Duiten were specifically minted for the Zeeland Chamber of the Dutch East India Company. The coins were struck in 1746, in the town of Middelburg. It was common practice for outward-bound vessels to carry coins and bar metal that was used as currency to obtain Asiatic goods.  Homeward-bound ships mainly carried oriental products such as spices, textiles and porcelain, as well as large quantities of Dutch coins.  The coins found near Meob Bay dated 1746, indicated that they had probably not been in circulation and were on their way to the Dutch trading posts in the East.

Old diamond mining reports dating back to the early 20th century mention silver and copper coins being found scattered along a part of the Namibian coast near Meob Bay. The silver coins originated from Mexico when this was still a Spanish colony and were used by the VOC to trade in the East Indies, moreover also known as the romantic “piece of eight” and was the very first U.S. Dollar in the United States until 1857. These coins were actually “cut” into 8 pieces, for change.

A couple of years ago a tour guide made a spectacular discovery between the sand dunes at Conception Water, hundreds of copper Duiten lay scattered on the sand.  It is suspected that a miner, labourer or traveler collected them whilst walking along the beach. Obviously, the bag with its useless contents did not withstand the harsh elements resulting in it rupturing scattering the coins onto the ground. Indeed, a spectacular find.

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South Africa: Winnifred & Maria, Isabel, Trekboer, Spy, Pisa, Texanita & Kiani Satu shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

August 21:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1817: Winnifred & Maria, this wooden-hulled brig wrecked near the Table Bay Wharf in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It now lies beneath reclaimed land.

1844: Isabel, this wooden-hulled barque was captured by the HMS Cleopatra and was en-route to Simon’s Bay in the Western Cape for adjudication when it lost its rigging and was brought into Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape, where it was driven ashore and condemned. It was due for adjudication as it was found with cargo stores for engaging in the slave trade. On this day, while anchored in Algoa Bay, its cables parted during a south easterly gale, and it was wrecked. It was officially condemned on the 2nd of October.

1844: Trekboer, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked in the same south easterly gale as the Isabel in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. A boy was lost his life during the wrecking.

1851: Spy, this wooden-hulled brigantine wrecked after its cables parted in a south easterly gale in St. Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1879: Pisa, this Italian wooden-hulled barque struck a reef 32 km from Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape on the 20th and started leaking. The captain tried to reach False Bay, but by the night of the 21st he decided to drive it ashore as he feared it would founder. He attempted to beach the barque near the mouth of the Bot River in the Western Cape but struck a rock before reaching the shore and wrecked. One newspaper article claims that the entire wreck washed ashore, whereas a different one claims that after its cargo was removed and it was stripped, its hulk remained on the rocks and eventually disappeared below water.

1972: Texanita, this Panamanian supertanker collided with the tanker Oswego Guardian in thick fog, off Stilbaai in the Western Cape and foundered. The oil vapours in the Texanita caused a massive explosion which broke the ship in two and it sank within 4 minutes. The event resulted in the loss of 47 lives on board the Texanita and the loss of one life from the Oswego Guardian. Three men from the Texanita and one from the Oswego Guardian were taken to a hospital in Mossel Bay. The oil spill at the time slicked approximately 500 penguins. The Oswego Guardian underwent repairs in Table Bay and continued tanking. At the time, this was the biggest collision in terms of size of vessels involved. The explosion on board the Texanita was heard over 100 km away and resulted in international regulations for the transport of inert gasses to be amended for safety.

2005: A privately operated Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (registration no. ZS-PCJ) encountered engine problems shortly before attempting to land at Virginia Airport in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. During the landing attempt, the airplane drifted from the centre line and a go-around was attempted. This was unsuccessful with the airplane continuing banking to the left and the pilot flew over the M4 highway and struck a house’s roof with the nose and left wing, coming to rest with the tail high in the air. The 5 occupants and pilot survived albeit with many injuries, but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

2013: Kiani Satu, this bulk carrier was towed out to sea about 200 km from Knysna in the Western Cape and scuttled by the South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). After encountering engine failure, the 165 m bulk carrier was driven close to the coast and it came to rest just off the Goukamma River Mouth, near Buffels Bay, in the Western Cape where its crew was airlifted to safety.

Rescue operation by NSRI

Various governmental departments worked together to attempt to protect coastal resources from an oil spill and to remove the vessel’s fuel and cargo to lighten it enough to be towed to deeper waters. This was eventually achieved, with the bulk carrier being towed out to sea and finding its final resting place over 1000 m deep, 200 km from the coast. The following weeks involved much cleanup with the result being the oiling of over 150 sea birds, and the death of 14 sea birds and two seals.

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South Africa: Kron Prinsess van Denmark, Aline & Sterling shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Natal Coast, wrecked in Namibia

August 20:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1752: Kron Prinsess van Denmark/Kronprinsessen af Dannemark, this wooden Danish East Indiaman experienced bad weather whilst on the African coast in April, and then on the 24th of May, after reaching Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, the decision was made to winter there to give the crew a chance to rest and to repair the vessel. They anchored in Mossel Bay on the 9th of June and local farmers assisted the stricken sailors with provisions. Two carpenters were sent from the Cape to repair it, but shortly after arriving they said that it was beyond repair, and a stone store structure was built to house its cargo until other vessels could forward the cargo and its crew back to Denmark. On this date, after all its cargo had been unloaded, it was beached. The parts were sold off in pieces until just the hulk remained.

1838: Aline, this wooden-hulled vessel foundered west of the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Very little is known about this vessel.

1892: Sterling, this wooden-hulled barque lost its mizzen mast, sails, and rigging in bad weather on the 2nd of June and by the 6th it was abandoned about 26 km south-west of Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape with the loss of life of two of the 13-strong crew. Eventually the tug, James Searle, picked it up and brought it into Algoa Bay for repairs and to salvage its cargo. Unfortunately, after the cargo was discharged, it was condemned and beached on this day.

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South Africa: La Rozette, Feejee, Palmer, Hawthorn, Roma, Espero & Stormgans shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Montrose wreck in Namibia

August 19:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1786: La Rozette, this wooden-hulled sailing brig was found wrecked and abandoned near Platboom beach close to Cape Point in the Western Cape. A few days later, six suspicious seamen were found in Cape Town and arrested. As it turned out, six members of the crew mutinied and murdered everyone else on board. They had left the vessel in a slowly foundering condition and expected it to sink, but instead it was driven ashore. A few days after the vessel was found, and after some enquiries six suspicious men were arrested and the Court of Justice found them guilty. Narratives seem to indicate that they were all executed in brutal ways.

1837: Feejee, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked during a south-easterly gale in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The wreck was purchased by a Mr John Thornhill who erected piles around the hulk and by 1840 had used it to construct Port Elizabeth’s first jetty. Unfortunately, three years later, in 1843 in a gale on the 25th of August the vessel Seagull struck the jetty. All 11 on board jumped onto the jetty but shortly thereafter the Laura struck the jetty and it collapsed, killing the 11 who had jumped onto it.

1840: Palmer, this wooden-hulled brig wrecked near Mouille Point whilst entering Table Bay in the Western Cape at night.

1889: Hawthorn, this wooden-hulled barquentine wrecked during a strong north-easterly wind on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1892: Roma,  this iron-hulled sailing barque wrecked late at night on Groot Vlei Beach at Cape Padrone in the Eastern Cape. All lives on board were lost with much of the wreckage, its cargo of ground nuts, and seven bodies washing ashore over the coming days.

1902: Espero, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked near the Mzumbe River Mouth in KwaZulu-Natal. The seas around the wreck were so littered with floating railway sleepers that the general area had to be declared a danger to navigation.

1987: Stormgans, this fishing trawler wrecked at Laaiplek in St. Helena Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Corsair & Patty shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Kolmanskop wreck near Swakopmund, Namibia

August 17:

“This day in our shipwreck history”

1833: Corsair, this wooden-hulled sailing schooner disappeared whilst en route from Cape Town in the Western Cape to Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It was last seen on this day and is presumed to have foundered somewhere along the route.

1991: Patty, this luxury yacht foundered within minutes after a fire broke out in the engine compartment just outside of Hout Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Philip Dundas, Flamingo, Queen, Ilva, Cyclon & Khedive shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Kolmanskop wreck in Namibia

August 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1828: Philip Dundas, this wooden-hulled sailing brig wrecked in a south-easterly gale at North End in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Two of the crew drowned.

1833: Flamingo, the wooden-hulled schooner caught alight and foundered in Buffels Bay at Cape Point in the Western Cape. The crew managed to abandon ship in a boat.

1863: Queen, this sailing barque wrecked at Back beach (modern day Golden Mile beach) after its anchors parted in a north-easterly gale whilst in the outer anchorage of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1866: Ilva, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked whilst loading cargo at the boating jetty in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

1883: Cyclon, this sailing barque was put into Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape in a leaky condition and on the 21st of July it was condemned, and then on this day, it was beached and broken up.

1910: Khedive, this steel-hulled German steam-powered cargo liner wrecked at the Kei River mouth about 1.6 km off Cape Morgan. The only loss of life was that of the third officer. A local farmer rescued the crew and guided them to East London. He was later presented with a bronze statuette by the German government in appreciation of his kindness. The wreck now lies at about 12 m in depth. Much of its cargo was salvaged in the 80’s under a National Monument’s Council permit.

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South Africa: Schapenjacht & Amwell shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Henrietta Spasheti wreck in Namibia

August 15:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1660: Schapenjacht, this wooden Dutch sailing vessel (which was built at the Cape), wrecked in a north-westerly gale on Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1852: Amwell, this British sailing brigantine wrecked in a south-easterly gale in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

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South Africa: Triangle, Camperdown, Verona, William Porter, Rooiberg & Produce shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Zeila shipwreck south of Henties Bay in Namibia

August 11:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history” 

1822: Triangle, this wooden-hulled sailing vessel was condemned and broken up in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1890: Camperdown, this iron-hulled sailing ship was last seen on this day whilst leaving Simon’s Town in the Western Cape for Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. It was never seen or heard from again and is presumed to have foundered shortly after leaving False Bay.

1902: Verona/Varuna/Varjuna, this sailing barque was abandoned in a sinking condition and was driven ashore during a north-westerly gale, wrecking off Danger Point in the Western Cape.

1906: William Porter, this iron-hulled steam-powered tug was being towed by the SS Ingerid from Walvis Bay in Namibia to Cape Town in the Western Cape when its tow cable parted during the night, and it foundered off the Northern Cape coast with two casualties.

1936: Rooiberg, this steel-hulled steam-powered whaler wrecked after striking Cap Rock in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape in hazy weather.

1974: Produce, this Norwegian bulk carrier wrecked on Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal on a clear day in fine weather. It rolled over and disappeared beneath the water after a few days. When the crew was rescued by the Oranjeland, they claimed they did not know that the reef was there despite it being marked on all charts.

Today, the wreck is a popular dive spot; however, it is always vulnerable to strong currents, so caution is advised. It lies at its deepest at about 30 m and rises to 14 m at its stern with much of it having been removed by salvors over the years. Because of the size of the wreck, it has been described as quite an eerie dive as the current along with its huge plates creak quite often. However, being such a large vessel on Aliwal Shoal means that it is home to an abundance of marine life, from moray eels to scorpion fish and the rare harlequin goldie. The wreck is also home to a hydroid that causes a herpes simplex rash, which has been humorously described as “easy to explain to your diving buddy, but not your non-diving spouse”.

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South Africa: Marietta, Shepherd & Aster shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Zeila shipwreck in Namibia

August 9:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1862: Marietta, this sailing brig wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape in the same north-westerly gale that claimed the Kate and the Crystal Palace the day before.

1874: Shepherd, this wooden-hulled sailing barque wrecked after striking the newly constructed Breakwater in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1997: Aster, this motor powered fishing vessel was scuttled by the Western Province Diving Union to form an artificial reef next to the wreck of the Katsu Maru 25 in Hout Bay in the Western Cape. It lies level in the sand, with its deepest point at about 30 m.

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