Namibia: Maritime Museum opens in Luderitz

The Namibia Maritime Museum (NMM), officially opened on 11 September 2024 by President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, is located in the Lüderitz Old Power Station (LOPS). As the largest maritime museum in Sub-Saharan Africa, it showcases Namibia’s rich maritime heritage through exhibitions on early seafaring, the fishing industry, marine conservation, and the country’s role in the global maritime economy. The museum features displays on maritime history, seabed mining, sea trading, and offshore oil and gas exploration. Its diverse collection includes ship models, antique maps, navigational instruments, fishing gear, seashells, postal stamps, and maritime coins, among others.

A landmark achievement in preserving Namibia’s maritime history was realised on Wednesday when President Nangolo Mbumba officially inaugurated the Namibian Maritime Museum in Lüderitz.

President Mbumba stressed the museum’s importance in documenting the role the ocean has played in Namibia’s development.

“Our coast, stretching 1,572 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean, has been central to trade, exploration, and cultural exchange for centuries. This museum stands as a resource for discovering our rich maritime history and understanding the ocean’s economic significance,” he said.

He said that the new facility is more than a repository of historical artefacts, the museum will serve as a dynamic centre for public engagement.

It will host cultural programmes, art events, and educational initiatives, including collaborations with schools to introduce children to the wonders of maritime life.

The museum’s exhibits include ship models, maritime artefacts, and a library that holds hundreds of books and stamps related to navigation and seafaring.

The museum, a significant component of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company’s second phase, is set to showcase the country’s deep maritime roots while promoting education and cultural appreciation.

Located in the historic Lüderitz Old Power Station, which dates back to 1911, the museum is now one of the largest maritime museums in Africa.

Originally conceived in 2004 by the late Dr. Abraham Iyambo, former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the museum project was endorsed by the Namibian Cabinet in 2009.

“Overcoming years of planning, the facility stands as a testament to Namibia’s commitment to preserving its maritime heritage,” the president said.

The museum, constructed at a cost of N$450 million, is designed to be a beacon of Namibia’s seafaring past.

It spans three floors and features a diverse array of exhibitions, including ancient watercraft, fossils, and maps, all contributing to a rich tapestry of the country’s maritime legacy.

According to Fluksman Samuehl, CEO of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company, the museum will also serve as a hub for marine research and education, fostering marine literacy among Namibians and tourists alike.

Lüderitz has long been central to Namibia’s maritime and economic activities. Its location is the perfect setting for the museum, which aims to elevate the town as a major cultural and tourist destination.

The project is part of the broader Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company initiative, which also includes the development of a 150-bed sea-view hospital, a waterfront hotel, and housing.

“Namibia’s maritime legacy has a new platform from which to inspire future generations,” Mbumba said.

He urged the public to visit the museum, participate in its programs, and contribute to preserving Namibia’s maritime heritage.

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Namibia: disappearance of The Vlissingen

 The Vlissingen

Some 180 km south of Walvis Bay in a hidden bay in an inaccessible beach area rests a Dutch shipwreck for nearly 300 years now. Only now and then a rare expedition disturbs it at Meob Bay.

Those lucky enough who were there, report of some antique coins, called “doits” washed up on the beach. These copper coins bear the letters “VOC” ("Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie" – Unified East-Indian Company). The Dutch VOC existed from 1602 until 1799 and traded with India and Asia.

In 1652 it started a storage station at the Cape of Good Hope, today’s Cape Town. One of the VOC’s ships called “Vlissingen” probably capsized in 1747 at Meob Bay, according to Bruno Werz.

He wrote an article about it in the Journal of Namibian Studies, 2008. Werz led an expedition to Meob Bay. About 900 copper “doits” engraved with VOC were found there, many of them bearing their manufacturing year of 1746. Research proved they were coined that year in Middelburg, Netherlands.

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Namibia: Diamond mining process

Diamond mining process

The initial mining process started off with miners and labourer’s creeping along their stomachs and knees in search of and collecting diamonds in jam tins strung from their necks.

The process had to be improved, consequently resulting in them using sieves to separate the sand from the larger grains containing the diamonds.  The method of sifting out the fine sand by submerging the sieve containing the gravel in a trough filled with seawater while rotating it was introduced by Charlie Bannau. The heavier minerals like diamonds accumulated in the center of the sieve.

Then followed the “Babies” swinging sieves suspended from 3 chains, ordinarily a worker would rock such a sieve like a baby in a cradle.

Soon thereafter the introduction of the trommel sieve followed. For those prospectors mining on their own the one-man box was the perfect option.  This special wooden crate contained sieves, jig and shovel.  The box was shipped from Swakopmund to Conception Bay and then transported by wagon to the mining area.

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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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Namibia: early days of diamond exploration - water delivery

Where there is Water there is Life........

The biggest challenge by far these early pioneers had to overcome was fresh water, particularly the shortage thereof.

Fresh water supplies to Conception Water were delivered by boat and then transported by mules and camels to the individual mine fields.

Fortunately, potable water found among the dunes of Conception Water during 1913 consequently resulted in the sinking of wells and a windmill being erected.

Anyone who has been to this laborious area would realize the massive task and effort it took to construct the 80 km pipe line across the dunes and linking it with the Meob Bay pipeline. 360 ton (13,300 pieces) of 6m long steel pipes were used to cover the 80 km. These imported pipes from Germany arrived by boat and then transported on ox wagons to the area.

Transportation of water to the fields was done using metal rolling vats covered with wooden strips.

These Lüderitzbucht constructed vats pulled by mules unfortunately also resulted in the conditions of the drinking water not always being favorable as a result of contamination.

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South Africa: Fratelli Arecco & Gertrud Woermann shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

August 22:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1883: Fratelli Arecco, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. It had a skeleton crew of 13 at the time because of desertions at a previous stop in Sri Lanka. It sprung a leak whilst crossing the Indian Ocean and had to be put into Durban for repairs. Some of its cargo of rice was sold to pay for the repairs, however either during the repairs or soon thereafter an east-north-easterly gale sprang up and one of its anchor cables parted. The master, being ashore at the time saw a signal from his vessel and purchased a new anchor and anchor chain but three hours later, its second anchor cable parted, and it was driven ashore on Back Beach. All those on board were saved by the rocket crew but after a few days the rotting cargo started a stench that resulted in the decision to blow the vessel up with dynamite so that the ocean would carry the rotting cargo away.

Gertrud Woermann II - wrecked in Namibia

1903: Gertrud Woermann, the steel-hulled steam-powered coaster wrecked in a dense fog, about 19 km south of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. The wreck lies at a depth of about 10 m. Ironically, the vessel meant to replace it, the Gertrud Woermann II, wrecked the following year 30 km north of Swakopmund in Namibia, also in a dense fog.

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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: Antelope, Frances, Seaforth, May, Esperanca, Cingalese & Godetia shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Kolmanskop trawler wreck near Swakopmund, Namibia

August 18:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1837: Antelope, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It had previously run aground in Table Bay in 1822 but was refloated. It most likely lies beneath reclaimed land today.

1840: Frances, this brig wrecked near Mouille Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape with the loss of one life. Very little is known about this vessel.

1844: Seaforth, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked when the wind dropped, on the east bank of the Kowie River in the Eastern Cape.

1874: May, this vessel disappeared between Table Bay in the Western Cape and Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It is presumed to have foundered with the loss of all hands. Very little is known about it.

1902: Esperanca, this sailing barque wrecked near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. Very little is known about this vessel.

1906: Cingalese, this vessel ran aground at the Hood Point lighthouse in East London in the Eastern Cape on this day. It was refloated and towed into the harbour, where it was broken up. The Hood Point lighthouse, at the time of the wrecking of the Cingalese, had a more red and white checkerboard appearance, with its more familiar all white-colour only being painted in 1929.

1970: Godetia, this fishing trawler was scuttled about 3 km off the Macassar Beach Pavilion in False Bay in the Western Cape.

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