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: 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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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: Newton & Sawahloento shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 14:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1932: Newton, this steam-powered South African fishing vessel was scuttled off the coast of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

1942: Sawahloento, this Dutch steam-powered merchant ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-177 about 250 km east of Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. At 16:36, U-177 fired a torpedo that struck the starboard side of the ship, near the engine room, sinking it within seven minutes. Only one lifeboat managed to be launched with ten people in it. They gathered nine people swimming around, but with the lifeboat leaking, had to leave others behind clinging to floating debris. This lifeboat was picked up by the fishing vessel, Guide Me, and landed at Durban three days later. The remaining 53 people that were on board the Sawahloento were presumed to have perished.

The Sawahloento, date and location unknown

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