South Africa: Courier, Anna, Mendeep, Stranger, Jane, Bender & Ocean Plume shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

August 27:

“This day in our shipwreck history”

1846: Courier, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked on the bar in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal whilst leaving the harbour. There was a westerly raging at the time and the captain insisted on leaving despite the Eliza, a vessel that drew less water than the Courier, already being stuck fast on the bar.

1868: Presumably heavy weather in East London in the Eastern Cape resulted in the disappearance of two vessels. Very little is known about these vessels and the events that resulted in their losses.

• Anna, a wooden surf boat; and

• Mendeep, a schooner.

1878: Stranger, this barque caught alight and was abandoned near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1888: Jane, the wooden-hulled barquentine wrecked during a south-easterly squall east of the Keurbooms River mouth near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. The wreck now lies in a gully at the beach by the Forest Hall Estate.

1955: Bender, this steam-powered trawler (ex-whaler) wrecked on Tsitsikamma Point in the Southern Cape on the South Coast.

1995: Ocean Plume, this prawn fishing vessel capsized in heavy seas about 10 kilometres east of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal with the loss of its crew of eight.

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South Africa: Crescent, Krimpenerwaard, Martlet & Iona 2 shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

August 12:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history” 

1796: Crescent, this wooden-hulled sailing vessel wrecked in Simon’s Bay in False Bay in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it.

1867: Krimpenerwaard, this Dutch sailing barque wrecked during a south-easterly gale near the Baakens River mouth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It now lies beneath reclaimed land.

1870: Martlet, this British wooden-hulled sailing brig wrecked on the rocks at the end of Eastern Pier in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. The wrecking was attributed to the captain becoming impatient and attempting to enter the river without a pilot.

1980: Iona 2, this South African fishing vessel foundered north of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

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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: Felix Vincidor, London, Santos, Caledonian, Fidia de Genoa, Ianthe, Golden Crown & Galaxy shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Unknown shipwreck in Namibia

July 18:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1841: Felix Vincidor, this wooden-hulled schooner, which had been detained by the HMS Clio, was driven ashore, and wrecked at night on Muizenberg Beach in False Bay in the Western Cape.

1850: London, this sailing vessel wrecked after its cables parted in a north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1874: Santos, this wooden-hulled schooner wrecked on a reef after its cables parted in a heavy swell on the eponymous Santos Beach in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. 

1878: Caledonian, this wooden hulled barque wrecked on Woodstock beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape after its cables parted in a north-westerly gale. It had sprung a leak whilst en route and when it wrecked, the captain and three of the crew drowned. 

1889: No. 18, this sail-propelled lighter foundered in the Outer Anchorage of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal after it had sprung a leak.

1889: Fidia de Genoa, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked north of the Umkhomazi River in KwaZulu-Natal. It encountered heavy seas during its journey, sustaining damage and springing several leaks. Because of the terrible weather and the state of the vessel, the captain had been unable to take regular observations. When they saw a buoy that was on Aliwal Shoal, they thought that they had overshot Durban. As the pumps were choked and all seemed lost at this point, the decision was made to beach the barque. The captain and two of the crew drowned as a result, with the remainder of the crew surviving. 

1890: Ianthe, this wooden sailing barque wrecked off Cliff Point near the Holgat River in the Northern Cape. Some of the crew managed to make it back to Port Nolloth with a lifeboat, leaving five of the crew behind. Rescuers arrived a day later with two of those left behind never being seen again. It was presumed that they had drowned. 

1923: Golden Crown, this iron steam-powered coaster ran aground during thick fog on Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape. The tug Ludwig Wiener rescued the crew the next morning. The wreck site was discovered by Dr. Bruno Werz and identified in 1992 with its boiler and the letters ‘D’ and ‘E’ on the deckhouse of the wreck. 

1942: Galaxy, the British steel-hulled steam-powered trawler wrecked near Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. All hands were lost and of its crew of 15, only five bodies were recovered after they washed ashore at the mouth of the Krom River.

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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: Luna, Scotland, Mincio, Weol-Mi No. 303 & BOS 400 shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

June 27:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1830: Luna, this wooden British brig wrecked just outside of the Knysna Heads in the Western Cape. It left Knysna on this day and despite a smooth bar and fair wind, it had ran aground on the sandbank outside the bar and within two days, drifted into the surf. The crew had abandoned it by this point and it wrecked.

1860: Scotland, this British sailing ship was lost at Montgomery Point at Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape.

1908: Mincio, this Dutch tug either ran aground and was refloated or wrecked at Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1968: Weol-Mi No. 303, this South Korean fishing vessel wrecked on rocks near the Mkambati River mouth in the Eastern Cape.

What remained of the Weol-Mi No. 303 (1968) in 2016

1994: BOS 400, this French crane barge ran aground on the rocks in Maori Bay near Hout Bay in the Western Cape. The barge was being towed to Cape Town by the Russian tug Tigr when its cables parted during heavy seas, and it drifted onto the rocks. The crew of 18 were rescued by helicopter. Numerous attempts were made to tow it off the rocks, but it could not be saved and was declared a total loss.

The NSRI at the wreck of the BOS 400 in Maori Bay, in early 2021, responding to an emergency in which a teenager became injured after jumping off the wreck

It lies partially on top of the wreck of the Oakburn (1906) and as the BOS 400 breaks apart, the wrecks of the two vessels are becoming mixed. The BOS 400 is a popular tourist attraction with many people enjoying the hike along the coast to view it. There are lots of instances of people climbing onto the wreck to explore the inside and to jump from the wreck into the sea below. However, as the BOS 400 continues to deteriorate the site is becoming much more dangerous, so it is advisable to admire the wreck from a distance instead.

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South Africa: Asiatic, Grindlay, Vigor, Armenia, La Porte, Bluff & Oceana Meteor shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

June 9:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1850: A south-easterly breeze sprung up on the Eastern Cape coastline resulting in the wrecking of two vessels:

• Asiatic, a wooden British barque’s cables parted and it wrecked after having entered Algoa Bay because it had sustained damage and was leaking.

• Grindlay, a wooden British barque which was abandoned in a sinking condition close to Jeffreys Bay.

1884: Vigor, this wooden Norwegian brig struck the bar whilst attempting to enter Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. The tug Forerunner attempted to tow it off, but the tow parted, and the easterly wind drove it onto the lee bank where it was stranded. Refloating attempts failed so it was beached north of the breakwater on Back Beach where it found its final resting place.

1902: Armenia, this wooden Italian barque was anchored in Table Bay in the Western Cape when a storm drove it ashore and it wrecked. It was anchored in Table Bay as it was involved in a collision with another vessel on the 7th of June, about 80 km north of Table Bay.

1904: La Porte, this British steam-powered ship suffered an explosion and foundered about 50 km off Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. Of the 23 crew, only 12 reached Port Nolloth in a lifeboat.

1929: Bluff, this wooden British steam-powered trawler was abandoned and is presumed to have foundered just off North Beach in KwaZulu-Natal. It was caught out in heavy seas and when it started leaking badly, it was abandoned. All, bar one crew member, were picked up by the Armadale Castle. This one crew member eventually drifted ashore and survived.

1969: Oceana Meteor, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered off Dassen Island in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: L'Alouette, Chieftain, Gentana, Louise Scheller, Linga, William King & Hung Mou Hao shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Montrose shipwreck in Skeleton Coast, Namibia

June 6:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1817: L'Alouette, this wooden French sailing ship wrecked near Olifantsbos on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. One child drowned during the wrecking.

1848: Chieftain, this wooden British brig wrecked after drifting onto rocks just west of the Mouille Point lighthouse at around 03:00 while attempting to enter Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1857: Gentana, this sailing brigantine wrecked in a north-westerly gale in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1882: Louise Scheller, this German barque wrecked in a north-westerly gale near Cape Hangklip in the Western Cape.

1918: Linga, this French steel-hulled steam-powered whaler became a wreck after becoming stranded off Park Rynie in KwaZulu-Natal.

1943: William King, this American freighter was torpedoed and sunk by U-198 about 320 km east of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The first torpedo caused an explosion that killed three men and opened a large hole as well as destroying the port boiler and two lifeboats. The survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats and two rafts and a coup de grâce sunk the William King 10 minutes later. The Master was taken as prisoner. The two rafts and one of the lifeboats were picked up 36 hours later by the HMS Northern Chief and the other lifeboat six days after the attack by the HMS Relentless. Another man was lost and two of the crew died of burns in one of the lifeboats, bringing the total casualties from the event to six.

1976: Hung Mou Hao, this motor-powered fishing vessel exploded and sank near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

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South Africa: Schollevaar, North Wester, Osprey, Isle of Wight, Clansman, Namaqua II,Ashbank, Zwartberg, Duineveld & Harvest Hercules shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 31:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1668: Schollevaar, this wooden Dutch hoeker was run ashore where it wrecked by a drunken skipper in a north-westerly gale near Yzerfontein in the Western Cape. Two people drowned during the wrecking.

1839: North Wester, this wooden South African sailing vessel wrecked near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1867: Osprey, this wooden British gunboat foundered during a westerly storm off Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. It was lost about 16 km west of the seal point lighthouse.

An illustration of the HMS Osprey (1867) and HMS Opposum engaging in a battle with pirates in Thailand

Comments:

Mike Klee

The "Osprey" did not founder. When a ship "founders", it basically sinks out in the open ocean due to the ingress of seawater. The "Osprey", however, was wrecked on the coast in shallow water, close to Cape St Francis. Her remains can still be seen in very shallow water.

Secondly and as far as I am aware, the "Osprey" was engaged in fighting pirates close to Hong Kong - NOT Thailand. In the wreckage of the "Osprey", a bronze cannon captured from these pirates in this fighting bore the Tudor rose. This cannon was salvaged in the 1970's and at one time "stood guard" in front of a beach house at Cape St Francis.

1870: Isle of Wight, this vessel sprang a leak and foundered off the Transkei coast in the Eastern Cape.

1882: Clansman, this wooden British brigantine was lost when its cables parted during a south-easterly gale near East London in the Eastern Cape.

1889: Namaqua II, this British/South African steam-powered coaster struck a submerged object and was beached near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. Reports vary, but it was either wrecked or repaired and sold off.

1892: Ashbank, this 4-masted steel British barque left Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape for Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia but was never seen or heard from again.

1955: Zwartberg, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel foundered at its moorings in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

1956: Duineveld, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel wrecked near Chapman’s Peak off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it.

1978: A cement barge, only known as “Barge 3”, foundered at the quarry in False Bay in the Western Cape.

1982: Harvest Hercules, a fire broke out on this South African fishing vessel in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It scuttled thereafter.

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South Africa: Lizzie, Una, Siri, M J McLaughlin, Cleopatra & Tania shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1874: Lizzie, this wooden British brigantine wrecked after its cables parted, about 3 km north of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. 

The following vessels are known to have wrecked in the month of May, but their exact days of wrecking are currently unknown: 

1929: Una, this wooden South African fishing trawler was scuttled to form a breakwater at the Stony Point Whaling Station in Betty’s Bay in the Western Cape.

The Una (1929), visible during low tide in Betty's Bay, date unknown

1949: Siri, this fishing vessel wrecked on the rocks at Southport in Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. 

1963: M J McLaughlin, this motor-powered South African barge was leaking, and while being towed, foundered south of Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal.

1968: Cleopatra, this motor-powered South African fishing vessel caught alight and was lost near the slip at Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

Tania (1970) at Buffels Bay Beach in 1995. The broken up remains now lie scattered in the rocks and the shallow water

1970: Tania, this motor-powered wooden fishing vessel wrecked at Buffels Bay Beach in False Bay on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. What is left of its remains can be seen scattered in the rocks just south of the beach.

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South Africa: Queen Victoria, John Drayton & Fukula shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Montrose wreck in Namibia

April 21:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1896: Queen Victoria, this steel British steam-powered ship struck Thunderbolt Reef off Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape and damaged its hull. It was towed into Algoa Bay for repairs and was beached opposite the Humewood hotel in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. It was then moved four months later to North End Beach where it was badly damaged during a heavy gale in 1902 and was declared a loss. The wreck now lies near the foot of Darling Street and the remains can still be dived on.

1943: John Drayton, this American liberty ship was torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci about 300-400 km east of Durban off KwaZulu-Natal. A distress call was launched, and the Leonardo da Vinci finished the John Drayton off with gunfire after it was abandoned. Two days later, the Oscar Gorthon rescued 11 survivors. A week after the sinking, the HMS Relentless rescued a further 14 survivors and exactly a month after the wrecking, eight further survivors were rescued although there were originally 24 men in that boat (meaning 16 men lost their lives). In all, 27 lives that were on board the John Drayton were lost following this event. This would be the third, and second last vessel, that the Leonardi da Vinci claimed off the South African coastline.

2017: Fukula, this Namibian diamond recovery vessel drifted ashore and wrecked about 20 km south of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

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South Africa: Sir William Heathcote, Flying Fish & Star of the East shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Benguela Eagle shipwreck in Namibia

April 15:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1841: Sir William Heathcote, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked on the sandbank in the Breede River mouth in the Western Cape.

1854: Flying Fish, this sailing schooner wrecked whilst trying to enter Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1905: Star of the East, this steel steam-powered fishing trawler wrecked near Kayser’s Beach in the Eastern Cape.

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South Africa: Merestein, Castor, Clyde & Gleam shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Shipwreck in Namibia

April 3:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1702: Merestein, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked on Jutten Island in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. The crew tried to enter Saldanha Bay for replenishment when the ship drifted onto the rocks around Jutten Island. It sank quickly and was battered to pieces within minutes. This resulted in the loss of life of the captain, two women, five children, and half of the crew. Approximately 100 of the crew reached the shore. Ships were sent from the Cape to pick up survivors. Its remains were discovered in the early 1970s which led to intense salvage efforts. The metal remains were conglomerated onto the rocks, so the salvors used dynamite. This resulted in the destruction of most of the wreck and what little remained after blowing it up was salvaged. Some of the artefacts, which included coins, were donated to museums whilst others were sold to collectors.

1851: Castor, this British man-o-war wrecked in the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape.

1879: Clyde, this British iron steam-powered transport ship struck a reef north-east of Dyer Island in the Western Cape and had to be run ashore on the island in fine weather, becoming a total wreck. Although the site can be dived, reports of great white shark activity tend to dissuade divers.

1882: Gleam, this British composite iron and wooden sailing barque wrecked in Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. There was a rush to enter the Port Nolloth harbour and its chain parted after the anchor was raised. Although a tug was sent to help, the master refused assistance. It drifted onto Black Jacob Rock and was battered to pieces within 5 minutes. Reports vary, but it is believed that five of the crew of nine lost their lives.

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South Africa: Vivid, Dahomian, Border, George M Livanos, Bulwark & African Phoenix shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

April 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1860: Vivid, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape.

1944: Dahomian, this British steam-powered merchant ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-852 near Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. The ship was en-route from New York to Cape Town with a general cargo including mail and 17 aircraft. Two crew members were lost with the survivors being picked up by the HMSAS Krugersdorp and HMSAS Natalia, who landed them at Simon’s Town.

1947: Border, this motor-powered coaster wrecked south of Port Nolloth at Naas Point on the west coast in the Northern Cape in dense fog. The wreck lies high and dry and can be accessed via the shipwreck 4x4 trail.

Although the Border (1947) is slowly rusting away, it is an interesting wreck to see and it is accessible without having to get underwater

1947: George M Livanos, this steam-powered freighter wrecked below the Greenpoint Lighthouse in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Its back broke quickly and fires broke out on board. Most of the cargo of wool and nickel was salvaged at the time.

The Border (1947) is not a particularly large vessel, but it is still something to behold, with its bow still standing proud

1963: Bulwark, this motor-powered coaster wrecked in dense fog west of Danger Point off Gansbaai in the Western Cape.

1979: African Phoenix, this motor-powered freighter was scrapped in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Its hull was badly damaged about 650 km north-east of Mauritius, but it managed to make it to Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Its cargo was delivered, and it was then taken to Durban where it was scrapped.

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South Africa: Zeepaard, San Antonio, Namaqua I, Shin Yuo Mou 61 & Ocean Surf shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

March 29:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1823: Zeepaard, this 20-gun wooden Dutch corvette was run aground off Cape Recife in Sardinia Bay in the Eastern Cape during the night in a thick fog. It became a total wreck, and eight lives were lost with many survivors being severely injured.

A model of what the Zeepaard (1823) looked like in 1819

Many of its guns were salvaged before the wreck was formally protected and can be found at places in Port Elizabeth, such as Bayworld Museum.

1842: San Antonio, this Portuguese wooden sailing brig (a slaver) wrecked near Hout Bay in the Western Cape.

1876: Namaqua I, this British iron-hulled steam powered coaster wrecked at Island Point, just south of Hondeklipbaai in the Northern Cape. Scattered bits of wreckage are visible today, lying high-and-dry.

What was still visible of the Namaqua I (1876) a few years ago

1976: Shin Yuo Mou 61, this Chinese motor-powered fishing vessel foundered, after an explosion, near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1979: Ocean Surf, this South African motor-powered fishing trawler’s engine failed, and the anchor could not hold it.

The Ocean Surf (1979) after having run aground

It lead to fast wrecking after being beached on Casuarina Beach near Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal. Reportedly, one person drowned because of the accident.

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South Africa: Lady Leith, Katherine Gwladys, Hero, Blythswood, Colombia, Dunkeld, Imp & Connect shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 27:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1848: Lady Leith, this wooden sailing brig wrecked in a south-easterly gale at Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape after having struck Thunderbolt reef.

1854: Katherine Gwladys, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked on Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1861: Hero, this American whaling barque wrecked in a south easterly gale in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1890: Blythswood, this sailing barque wrecked at Green Point/Mouille Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape. There are differing reports for the date of the wrecking with another possible date being April 3rd.

1943: Colombia, this former passenger liner, which was converted into a submarine depot ship, was attacked and sunk by U-516 between Great Fish River point and East London in the Eastern Cape.

The Colombia (1943), at Herok, Iceland, date unknown

It was being escorted by the British corvette, HMS Genista, and several RAF aircraft when a torpedo struck at its No. 2 hold, just before the bridge. It was immediately abandoned but sank within 10 minutes. A headcount revealed that eight men were missing, and they are presumed to have gone down with the ship.

1952: Dunkeld, this South African motor-powered fishing vessel wrecked near Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1960: Two steel steam-powered pilot tugs, the Koodoo and the Mary, were scuttled in front of the Hood Point Lighthouse in East London, in the Eastern Cape.

The Koodoo (1960) and the Mary (1960) being towed out to be scuttled

2001: Imp, this yacht was caught out in a storm and driven onto the rocks, to be wrecked, at Hout Bay in the Western Cape.

2014: Connect, this South African fishing vessel wrecked near Voelklip beach in Hermanus in the Western Cape with the loss of one life.

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South Africa: Lieutenant Maury, Queen Anne & Glen Mist shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 10:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1892: Lieutenant Maury, this wooden barque caught fire while at anchor in Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape and eventually foundered. It caught alight at 01:00 and sank by 15:00. The cause of the blaze was not established. Only one lifeboat and two charred and burned sail booms were saved. 

1943: Queen Anne, this British motor-powered steel cargo ship was en route to Beirut carrying a cargo of government stores, including explosives, when it was sunk by U-509, about 24 km south-southwest of Cape Agulhas/L'Agulhas in the Western Cape.

The Queen Anne (1943) date and location unknown

A single torpedo sunk the ship with the loss of the master and four crew members. The remaining survivors were split into two groups, with the one group of 17 survivors being picked up by the HMS St. Zeno and landed at Cape Town, and the other group of 22 making landfall somewhere along the coastline near Bredasdorp in a lifeboat.

1961: SAAF Douglas C-47B (registration no. 6856), this military transport aircraft crashed near Bizana in the Eastern Cape with the loss of its crew of five.

SAAF 685 (GZCL), taken around the end of WWII, location unknown

2017: Glen Mist, this South African fishing vessel foundered at the Saldanha Bay wharf in the Western Cape, presumably due to many years of neglect.

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