South Africa: John, Cockburn, Bibsy, Madelpad, Kalahari Sands, Dassen Island & Oceana Apollo shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Eduard Bohlen shipwreck in Namibia

September 16:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1803: John, this wooden sailing brig wrecked between De Kelders and the Klein River/Lagoon mouth in the Western Cape. Only five people survived the wrecking and the exact number that were on board is unknown.

1850: Cockburn, this wooden sailing barque wrecked in a north-westerly gale on Salt River Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. The exact number of casualties is not known, but all reports state that there were some casualties.

1875: Bibsy/Bibsey, this vessel parted its cables and wrecked on a beach in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1891: Madelpad, this vessel wrecked in the East London Harbour in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about it.

1995: Kalahari Sands, this South African fishing vessel wrecked on Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

1999: Oceana Apollo, this South African/Namibian fishing vessel developed a leak and subsequently foundered just outside of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. The crew of 10 was rescued by the crew of a nearby fishing vessel, the MFV Gregory.

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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: Sandwich, City of Athens & Ker Yar Vor shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

August 10:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1853: Sandwich, this wooden-hulled sailing brig wrecked near the Rietvlei lagoon in Table Bay in the Western Cape. One man died of exposure whilst on a lifeboat.

1917: City of Athens, this steel-hulled steam-powered ship sank after it struck two mines laid by the German commerce raider, Wolf, between Dassen Island and the west coast mainland in the Western Cape. Nineteen people lost their lives when a lifeboat capsized.

1979: Ker Yar Vor, this fishing vessel was scuttled on the remains of the Jo May off Duiker Point in the Western Cape. In December 1978, whilst refuelling in Hout Bay harbour, it exploded because of a lit cigarette. The explosion killed the ship’s engineers as well as the refuelling truck driver who had lit the cigarette.

Parts of the vessel’s superstructure were blown hundreds of meters into the sea. Over the following months it was stripped of valuables and then towed and scuttled atop the Jo May to form an artificial reef at 22 m in depth just outside of Maori Bay. Over the time the structure has collapsed, and its max depth is around 28 m now.

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South Africa: Anne Jane, Kent, Elise, Magdala, Pemba & Castillo de Bellver shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Snowgoose wreck in Namibia

August 6:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1856: Anne Jane, this vessel wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Very little is known about the vessel as well as the event. 

1856: Kent, this wooden-hulled sailing barque wrecked near the Salt River Mouth in Table Bay in the Western Cape after its cables parted and it was driven ashore. 

1863: Elise, the wooden-hulled brig wrecked near Mouille Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1897: Magdala, the wooden-hulled sailing barque left Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape on this day, destined for Delagoa Bay (modern day Maputo) in Mozambique. However, the vessel and those that were on board were never seen or heard from again. 

1926: Pemba, the steel-hulled steam-powered ship foundered south-east of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape after being swamped in heavy weather. Although the crew took to the boats and landed on the beach, one man lost his life.  

1983: Castillo de Bellver, the Spanish super tanker foundered about 70 km west of Dassen Island in the Western Cape, after a fire broke out onboard the vessel. Although the crew were saved, three members could not be accounted for and were presumed to have perished in the fire. The ship burnt intensely, and eventually bad weather broke its back, with the stern section sinking. The bow section remained afloat upturned, and divers were dropped on it by helicopter to secure a tow rope. The tug John Ross towed it further out to sea, and it was scuttled using explosives in deeper waters. It was carrying 252,000 tons of crude oil at the time and it is believed that approximately 60,000 tons were released into the ocean and/or burned during the event. The oil spill initially looked as if it was going to wash up on the coast which would have caused a massive marine disaster however the wind eventually blew it out to sea where it dispersed. It is believed that both its bow and stern sections are releasing oil to this day.

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South Africa: Hope, Admiraal de Ruyter, Lively, Durban, Tweed, Wallarah, Kalewa & Frean shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Arkona shipwreck in Namibia

August 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1849: Hope, this coasting schooner wrecked in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1860: Admiraal de Ruyter, this Dutch frigate ran aground in False Bay in the Western Cape and was condemned.

1866: Lively, this wooden fishing cutter wrecked on Malgas Island just off Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

1886: Durban, this iron British steam-powered ship was lost near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Very little is known about this vessel.

1888: The Tweed, this sailing clipper was dismasted in a storm and then ran aground in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It was broken up and sold off shortly after.

1891: Wallarah, this three-masted British steam-powered ship ran aground on the rocks at Dassen Island in the Western Cape due to a strong current in thick fog, becoming a wreck. It was on its maiden voyage from London to Sydney with a general cargo.

1942: Kalewa, this British freighter foundered and sank within ten minutes after its starboard side was badly damaged after being rammed by the Danish vessel Boringia off the Northern Cape coast. The Boringa picked up all the survivors and no lives were lost.

1957: Frean, this Dutch coaster (on charter to Thesens at the time) wrecked near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

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South Africa: Cuba, Aubrey, Harvest Leo & Sea shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Irmgard shipwreck near Luderitz, Namibia

July 12:

 “This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1853: Cuba, this sailing barque wrecked on a reef off Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape. The crew and passengers were picked up by the City of Calcutta and the Kirkman Finlay.

Sea shipwreck

1991: Aubrey, this fishing vessel foundered southwest of Cape Point in the Western Cape after one of the timbers in its bow suddenly gave way. It was lost in the early hours of the morning.

1994: Harvest Leo, this fishing vessel was scuttled by the S.A Navy with explosives, south of Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

2001: Sea, this former passenger liner foundered during a tow by the tug Simoon, about 150 kilometres southeast of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It was a dead ship headed for India as scrap. On the 11th of July it was listing 30 degrees port and SAMSA denied it entry into Algoa Bay as it was carrying oil and diesel which they were afraid would cause massive pollution if it foundered near the coastline. It was ordered to stay well clear of the coast and by the next day it was confirmed that it had foundered in about 4200-metre-deep water.

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South Africa: Reform, ST, Nivonia & Mundra shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 6:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1833: Reform, this wooden cutter was driven ashore and wrecked on Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

1889: ST, this iron British schooner (possibly a 3-masted barquentine) wrecked in Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape after having struck a rock in the channel leading to the jetty. Although some sources suggest that the wreck lies further south than Port Nolloth.

The Nivonia (1935) being claimed by the sea after wrecking

1935: Nivonia, this British/South African whaler wrecked after stranding on Pumela Rocks, at the mouth of the Ntshambili River in KwaZulu-Natal, at night in rainy and misty conditions.

What remains of the Nivonia (1935) today above the water - the winch apparatus for its harpoon gun (on the right) as well as the bow section (on the left)

Other sources list the wrecking as July 2nd 1936. Today some of its remains are visible on the rocks, slowly being reclaimed by the sea with its boiler just beyond, in deeper water. The Port Shepstone Maritime Museum has an exhibition on the Nivonia.

The SS Mundra (1942) sunder its own steam, date and location unknown

1942: Mundra, this British steam-powered ship was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-18 about 40 km east of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. It had on board survivors from the ship de Weert, which was sunk by the I-18 nine days earlier near modern-day Maputo, survivors from the Goviken, which was sunk by I-20 seven days earlier as well as survivors from the Eknaren which was sunk by I-16 five days earlier. In total, 94 lives were lost to this attack with 155 lives surviving it.

Remains of the Nivonia (1935)

1993: A Transkei Defence Force Casa 212 Aviocar 200 (registration no. TDF-01) crashed about 10 km from Umtata Airport in the Eastern Cape during a take-off for a training flight, resulting in the death of both pilots.

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South Africa: Aberystroith, Nan Yung, Pioneer, Apollo Sea & St Michael shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 20:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1897: Aberystroith, this British barque struck unmarked rocks just off Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape and wrecked.

1984: Nan Yung, this motor-powered Taiwanese fishing vessel foundered near Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

1991: Pioneer, this South African fishing vessel was scuttled by the South African Navy off Cape Point in the Western Cape.

1994: Apollo Sea, this Chinese ore-carrier was on its way from Saldanha Bay to China when it foundered in heavy seas about 20 km west of Dassen Island in the Western Cape. Four hours after leaving Saldanha, two distress signals were sent to China. South African authorities were informed 5 days later of the sinking.

The Apollo Sea (1994) under its previous name as the EW Beatty, date and location unknown

Meanwhile, 2 days after the sinking, oil-soaked penguins started arriving at Dassen Island, which is a breeding ground for African penguins. Massive efforts went into the rescue of the seabirds and endangered penguins and despite months of efforts, thousands of birds were lost and beaches along the west coast were polluted with oil. Parts of the ore carrier were found washed up as far south as Noordhoek beach. The location of the oil spill was found as it was bubbling to the surface, at a spot which was 180 m in depth. As the Apollo Sea had just left Saldanha Bay, it was fully fuelled with 2470 tons of fuel on board. It is presumed that the 36 lives that were on board the Apollo Sea went down with the ship.

A newspaper clipping in Afrikaans from Die Burger at the time indicating with the red dots, where equipment/parts of the Apollo Sea (1994) washed up and its path with the red lines. The black dot in the dark area shows where the centre of the bubbling oil spill was and the other black dot indicates the spot where the last emergency signal location was logged from

2007: St Michael, this motor-powered fishing vessel foundered off Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Asiatic, Telegraph, Mazeppa, Mosvalla & Southern Author shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 18:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1861: Asiatic, this vessel foundered in a storm in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape with the loss of 15 of its crew.

1872: Telegraph, this wooden schooner foundered off Cape Hangklip in the Western Cape.

1885: Mazeppa, this British/South African sailing cutter wrecked in bad weather near Port Beaufort in the Western Cape.

1912: Mosvalla, this Norwegian whaler disappeared along with 10 people on board during a heavy storm after leaving Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape late at night. It was last spotted near Vondeling Island. The area was reportedly patrolled for weeks and only some deckhouse planking was ever found.

What remains visible of the Southern Author (1961) today and is locally known as "Die Dop"

1961: Southern Author, this South African whaler wrecked on Dassen Island in the Western Cape. Its upside-down bow is still visible at low tide, and it is locally known as ‘die dop’.

The Southern Author (1961) stuck on the rocks and being claimed by the sea

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South Africa: Gitana, Helena, Newport, Rory Brown, Marlina & Kiperousa shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 7:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1857: A north-westerly gale blowing into Table Bay in the Western Cape resulted in the wrecking of three vessels: 

• Gitana, a schooner, wrecked near the Imhoff Battery after its cables parted.

• Helena, an Iron sailing schooner, was possibly driven onto the rocks at Granger Bay.

• Newport, a brigantine which wrecked near the Imhoff Battery.

• Rory Brown, a British brigantine, which wrecked near Imhoff Battery.

1943: An RAF Catalina (registration no. FP275) returned to St Lucia Bay in KwaZulu-Natal after conducting an anti-submarine mission, but the aircraft stalled on approach, resulting in it crashing on the south side of St Lucia Bay. One of the crew of eight survived.

1979: Three Dutch hopper barges, HAM 570, HAM 580 and HAM 582, were scuttled off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape by the SAS Windhoek, SAS Durban, and SAS Port Elizabeth.

1990: Marlina, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel wrecked on Dassen Island in the Western Cape.  

2005: Kiperousa, this Maltese bulk carrier wrecked on a reef of the Bhenga River mouth, just south of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape.

The Kiperousa being battered shortly after running aground

Deene Collopy
She had already been aground a while by the time this picture was taken, as the first phase of the salvage had already been completed and that was removing her deck cargo of logs. Salvors brought in a Soviet era built MI26 from Sudan to lift off the deck cargo logs.

Dylan Knott
Wasn't she towed off then scuttled?

Deene Collopy
No - fell apart in situ after being pounded by heavy seas.

Dylan Knott
Couldn't have lasted too long. Seas rip apart ships in a few weeks.

Dylan Knott
Place charges were used to rip her open for mother nature to do her work quicker.

Deene Collopy
Correct, by this time all deck cargo had been airlifted off.

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South Africa: Columbia, Grace, Silence, Lockett, Imp, Saft & Harvest Tamara shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Karimona shipwreck in Namibia

June 4:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1796: Columbia, this wooden American sailing vessel became stranded on Salt River beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It is assumed that it wrecked.

1822: Grace, this wooden British ship’s cargo of whale oil leaked into its cargo of wool which caught alight near the Ratel River mouth in the Western Cape. It was abandoned near Struisbaai/Struis Bay in the Western Cape after which it was driven ashore and wrecked.

1830: Silence, this wooden British brig struck a submerged wreck in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It was driven ashore near the south wharf. Upon inspection a hole was discovered, and it was therefore condemned.

1884: Lockett, this wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south-easterly wind on the west bank of the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape.

1920: Imp, this motor-powered South African collier sank after parting from its cables in a north-westerly gale near Cape Hangklip in the Western Cape. It was swept out to sea whilst carrying coal to Stony Point when its engines swamped. Three of the four on board drowned.

1931: Saft, this sailing cutter wrecked on Dassen Island in the Western Cape after being run ashore.

2006: Harvest Tamara, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered off the west coast in the Western Cape after a collision with the Anangel Splendour.

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South Africa: Nossa Senhora D'Guia, St. Austell, Tancred, Eugenie, Irene & Sibanya shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

May 2:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1819: Nossa Senhora D'Guia, this wooden Portuguese brig was driven ashore by a north-westerly gale and subsequently wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1870: St. Austell, this wooden British schooner wrecked in a gale near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. 

1879: Tancred, this wooden British barque, while in tow by the Somtseu, ran aground on Anabella Bank at the entrance to the Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. Although the Somtseu and the Forerunner attempted to refloat the Tancred, they were unsuccessful, and when it came unstuck eventually, it was driven onto the beach where it became a total wreck. 

1893: Eugenie, this wooden British sailing barque ran aground near the Kieskamma River mouth in the Eastern Cape and was abandoned after being dismasted, becoming a wreck. 

1970: Irene, this motor-powered South African launch foundered in heavy seas and dense fog off Mouille Point in Cape Town in the Western Cape. 

2008: Sibanya, this South African lobster fishing vessel foundered after striking a reef just south of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape. One life was lost.

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South Africa: Bruydegom, Israel, Theresina, Juno, Tandeka & Sail Fisher shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

April 9:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

Eduard Bohlen shipwreck in Namibia

1674: Bruydegom, this wooden sailing vessel struck a rock between Meeu Island and Schaapen Island in the Langebaan lagoon in the Western Cape. It then drifted into the shallower parts of the lagoon, finally foundering in Kraal Bay. It had a cargo of limestone and shells on board and was waiting for favourable winds to head back to Cape Town.

1847: Israel, this wooden sailing barque (a whaler) had its cables part during a north-westerly gale and it wrecked on Salt River Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It had originally entered Table Bay for fresh water.

1878: Theresina, this wooden sailing vessel’s anchor cable parted during an east-north-easterly gale and it wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The crew were saved using a rocket apparatus as quicksand apparently engulfed the vessel and its cargo rapidly. The cargo included a deluxe bus. Many attempts to get it out of the wreck failed, and the ship and cargo eventually disappeared beneath the sand. However, the masts stuck out and it could still be observed at high tide. In 1913/14 the wreck was temporarily exposed, and attempts were made to get the bus out, but these were also unsuccessful. A wreck was demolished in 1936 on Back Beach and it is suspected that it may have been the Theresina.

1885: Juno, this sailing schooner foundered south of the Orange River off the west coast in the Northern Cape. A fire broke out on board late at night on the 8th and it was abandoned the morning of the 9th. It foundered shortly after. When the crew of 21 attempted to land, their boat capsized in the surf, and only four survived.

1977: Tandeka, this ferro-cement sailing yacht wrecked east of the Dassen Island Lighthouse off the west coast in the Western Cape.

1977: An outboard motor-powered dinghy (name unknown) was lost at sea with two people on board off Hout Bay in the Western Cape. 

2002: Sail Fisher, this fishing trawler, whilst returning from catching hake, ran aground on a rock and sank in House Bay on Dassen Island in the Western Cape. The crew of 10 got off safely and divers managed to pump off 400 litres of diesel fuel. The superstructure and debris were also removed so that the wreck would not pose a danger.

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South Africa: Cottager, Catherine Scott, Western Knight, Zulu Coast I, Fong Shong 22 & Fame shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

April 8:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

Top 5 shipwrecks in Namibia YouTube video:

1845: Cottager, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked southwest of the entrance to Saldanha Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape. Two men died during the wrecking.

1878: Catherine Scott, this wooden sailing barque wrecked after its cables parted in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1929: Western Knight, this steel steam-powered freighter ran aground in thick fog and abnormal currents between Willows and Schoenmakerskop in Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

A Ford Model A being salvaged from the Western Knight (1929)

After striking the rocks, the No. 3 hold, engine, and boiler flooded. The cargo was salvaged by the famous Captain H. F. van Delden, and included items like refrigerators, motor vehicles, tyres, and agricultural machinery.

The Western Knight's (1929) back broke shortly after wrecking

Frank Neave, a local photographer, spent several days photographing the wreck and the salvage operations.

The Western Knight (1929) being battered and broken by the surf

1953: Zulu Coast I, this motor-powered coaster wrecked in fog near the Groen River Mouth in Namaqualand on the west coast in the Northern Cape.

1976: Fong Shong 22, this steel motor-powered fishing vessel (tunny boat) wrecked in thick fog on the northwest point of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape.

2000: Fame, this South African fishing vessel foundered off Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal.

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South Africa: Hugelia & Southern Explorer shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Montrose shipwreck in Namibia

February 19:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1913: Hugelia, this iron steam-powered fishing trawler wrecked just west of the Keiskamma River mouth near Hamburg in the Eastern Cape. 

1985: Southern Explorer, this South African fishing vessel struck rocks near Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape and promptly foundered.

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South Africa: Lady Holland, Childe Harold & Otto Siedle shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 13:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1830: Lady Holland, this wooden vessel struck a reef north-east of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape and wrecked. Its passengers and crew made it onto Dassen Island using the boats before being rescued.

1850: Childe Harold, this sailing vessel wrecked on the south-eastern point of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape just after midnight. The captain was the only casualty, who drowned trying to swim a line to shore.

1981: Otto Siedle, this tug was scuttled by the SA Navy about 100km north west of Cape Town in the Western Cape in about 2.5 km deep water.

A view of Dassen Island from the north. SAHRA database contains 24 entries for wrecking events near the island, with the earliest recorded wrecking being in 1734 and the most recent in 2002

The tug was decommissioned, stripped of all valuable material, and then donated to the SA Navy who used it for torpedo target practice for the SAS Maria van Riebeeck. The tug had served for 43 years in various roles, most commonly on the modern-day Namibian coastline where it assisted many stricken vessels.

The tug Otto Siedle (1981), date and location unknown (suspected Cape Town)

There is also a story that tells of the tug’s master playing a practical joke on the Italian liner Europa’s passengers by rigging a skeleton to make it appear as though the tug was being steered by the skeleton as it pulled up alongside the Europa in Walvis Bay in Namibia.

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South Africa: Robert, Mary Ann, Cilicia & Nideras shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 12:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1847: Robert, this British ship sprang a leak and had to be run ashore near the Lourens River mouth at Strand in False Bay in the Western Cape, where it wrecked. Some of the houses in the area were reportedly built with its main cargo of teak from Burma.  

1888: Mary Ann, this wooden barque came into Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape for the captain to receive medical attention and for repairs to the vessel on January 6th. However, on the 5th of February the vessel was condemned and put up, to be sold on the 16th of February. This was not to happen, as on this day, it slipped its anchor cable in a south-easterly gale and was wrecked on North End Beach. 

1917: Cilicia, this British steel steam-powered freighter struck a mine laid by the German raider, SMS Wolf, about 8 km south of Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

The Cilicia (1917) depicted on a French postcard, date and location unknown

The tugs Ludwig Weiner and J W Sauer towed it towards Cape Town, but it foundered near Robben Island. All on board were saved.

The minefield laid by the SMS Wolf on the 16th January 1917 that claimed the Cilicia (1917)

1929: Nideras, this South African iron steam-powered fishing vessel was lost in the passage of Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape during thick fog after attempting to change its fishing grounds. One of its crew perished during the wrecking.

2002: J&D Aviation HS-125-400B (registration no. ZS-JBA), this business jet was written off after rolling into a ditch at Lanseria Airport in Gauteng. The hydraulic accumulator was not pressurised and after the co-pilot removed the chocks, braking attempts failed.

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