South Africa: Susan, Eliza and Alice, Eugenie S Embericos, Strathclyde & Eugeni Livanos shiwprecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Unknown vessel in Walvis Bay, Namibia

September 21:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1862: Susan, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1870: Eliza and Alice, this barque wrecked just off Mostert's Hoek in Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. 

1917: Eugenie S Embericos, this steel steam-powered freighter ran aground on this day east of Great Fish Point in the Eastern Cape after presumably a strong inset current, thick fog, and navigational error as the only chart on board of the South African coast was found to be from 1865. Over the next two years, attempts were made to try and refloat the freighter, but by October of 1919 these were abandoned.

1933: Strathclyde, this iron sailing schooner was scuttled about 8 km off the coast of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1971: Eugeni Livanos, this tanker was badly holed after striking Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal and was scrapped in Durban harbour. Our records are incomplete on whether the scrapping occurred on this day or whether the impact with Aliwal Shoal occurred on this day.

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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: Prins Willem I, Elvira, Nebo & Mariposa shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 20:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1819: Prins Willem I, this wooden Dutch brig was struck by lightning and subsequently became a wreck after being stranded on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1855: Elvira, this wooden British sailing barque struck Robben Island during the night and then drifted onto the beach where it wrecked.

1884: Nebo, this steam-powered British freighter struck the northern edge of Aliwal shoal off KwaZulu-Natal at 8:20 in the morning.

Some diving charters advertise diving on the Nebo (1884) as one of the few wreck dives where there are so many fish

It was badly holed and foundered at around 12:00 just over 1 km from the Mahlongwa River mouth. Some reports indicate that two people drowned, but the Durban Port Captain reported no loss of life.

Divers around the stern section of the Nebo (1884), with the propeller

Over the coming weeks, thousands of railway sleepers washed up along the coastline. The wreck site can be dived and lies at around 27 m in depth, and forms part of the Aliwal Shoal dive sites. The wreck lies upside down with most of the large structure still intact which attracts much marine life.

1900: Mariposa, this British steel-hulled steam-powered vessel caught alight and burned with its cargo of hay for four days before being left to become a wreck in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

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