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: Bella Angela, G M Tucker & SBA 305 shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Shawnee wreck south of Walvis Bay, Namibia

September 10:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1844: Bella Angela, this wooden sailing barque was captured by the HMS Dolphin and started being broken up in Table Bay in the Western Cape on this day, with its hull and fittings auctioned off on the 27th of September.

1895: G M Tucker, this vessel wrecked in the Old Harbour on the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about this vessel.

1960: SBA 305, this barge wrecked off the Railway Jetty in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape during rough weather.

2004: A Ryan Blake Air Charter Fairchild SA228-AC Metro III (registration no. ZS-OLS) was forced into making an emergency landing on a farm near George Airport in the Western Cape after encountering a bird strike which resulted in the loss of the right engine during the landing approach. Both pilots survived but the plane was damaged beyond repair.

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South Africa: Fanny, Breidablik, Grace Peile, Princess Alice, Trinculo, Luna, Bjorviken, John Dickenson & Arum shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Simferopol in Namibia

July 30:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1851: Fanny, this wooden-hulled sailing brig wrecked in a north-westerly gale on Woodstock beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It now lies beneath reclaimed land.

1872: A north-easterly gale in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal led to the grounding of the Breidablik, Grace Peile, Princess Alice, and the Trinculo. All the vessels were flung high and dry and buried in the sand, with all undergoing repairs and attempts at refloating. Two of these were successful, meaning that two vessels were lost on this day: 

• Grace Peile, this wooden-hulled barque wrecked after its cables parted and it was driven onto Back beach.

• Princess Alice, this wooden-hulled sailing schooner wrecked, possibly also on Back beach. 

1880: Luna, this sailing schooner foundered near Salamander Point in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It was transporting hides between Hondeklip Bay and Cape Town when it started leaking. The crew abandoned it whilst trying to enter Saldanha Bay. 

1893: Bjorviken, this wooden-hulled sailing barque struck the bar of the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape and was subsequently condemned.

1948: John Dickenson, this whaler wrecked opposite the Sea Sands Hotel, north of Umhlanga Rocks in KwaZulu-Natal. One source lists a John Williamson, a fishing vessel, to have wrecked in the same location also on this day, and that it is still visible. More research is required to determine whether or not these are two different vessels. 

1957: Arum, this fishing vessel was scuttled in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about it.

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South Africa: Nederlansche Vlag, Lady Allen, Ovambo Coast & Oriental Pioneer shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

July 22:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1870: Nederlansche Vlag, this Dutch barque was lost at sea during a south-westerly gale 50 km off Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. All 12 on board were presumed drowned. 

1878: Lady Allen, this vessel lost its rudder in a gale and was abandoned at sea off Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. It is presumed to have foundered. 

1958: Ovambo Coast, this South African coaster/freighter ran aground in thick fog and heavy seas on Marcus Island in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. The tug FW Bates attempted to pull it off but was unsuccessful, so it was abandoned and shortly thereafter, broken up by the sea.

Oriental Pioneer (1974) after running aground on Maclear Reef

1974: Oriental Pioneer, this Liberian bulk carrier cracked its hull plating in a heavy swell whilst rounding Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape. With the master fearing for the safety of the ship, he turned it 90 degrees and ran it aground on Maclear reef, about 1 km offshore.

At low tide the engine block of the Oriental Pioneer (1974) breaks the surface

The lighthouse keeper at L'Agulhas, 6.5 km away, reported the grounding before a radio signal was sent out by the vessel. It now lies at about 10 m in depth with its steel structure scattered everywhere. It makes for a popular fishing site, but caution is advised as the engine block is visible above the water line during low tide but lies just below the surface at high tide.

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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: Het Huys te Craijestein, Nagel, Gambia, Hollandia & Louise shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 27:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1698: Het Huys te Craijestein, this Dutch East Indiaman wrecked in thick fog off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Remains of this vessel can still be seen on the seabed amongst the rocks near Oudekraal on the Cape peninsula.

One of the anchor’s of Het Huys te Craijestein (1698) that is still visible on site

1709: Nagel, this wooden Dutch galiot wrecked after a fire burned it down to the waterline in Kraalbaai, in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. It was used to transport goods around the Cape Colony and was being used as a fishing vessel when it was lost.

1871: Gambia, this three-masted British steam-powered ship wrecked at the then North Jetty in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Its propellors were fouled by a snapped towing cable which was being used to tow the Maritana, which had been abandoned in a leaking condition. The wreck lay there for 22 years before it was demolished with explosives.

1890: Hollandia, this Dutch barque wrecked in False Bay in the Western Cape and four lives were lost because of the wrecking.

The Gambia (1871) after having run aground with its fouled propellor

1891: Louise, this Norwegian wooden sailing barque wrecked on the bar while being towed into the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape during heavy seas.

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South Africa: Papa Risetto, Mabel, Seier & Sceptre shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage 

May 23:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1888: Papa Risetto, this Italian sailing barque foundered in a hurricane near Morgan's Bay in the Eastern Cape. The crew was rescued by the Myvanwy and taken to Durban.

1909: Mabel, this wooden British cutter capsized outside of Salamander Bay in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. Three people drowned during the wrecking.

1910: Seier, this wooden Norwegian sailing barque struck a rock west of Walker Point near Knysna and was beached two hours later in Buffalo Bay in the Western Cape. It was carrying creosote as cargo when it wrecked which harmed the marine live all the way from Sedgefield to Knysna.

1925: Sceptre, this steam-powered British cargo ship struck a submerged object at 21:10 the night of the 22nd near Struisbaai in the Western Cape.

A porcelain washbasin which was salvaged from the Sceptre (1925) and is on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum

At 09:30 on the 23rd the captain abandoned ship with his crew, and they were picked up by the SS Mineric and were landed at Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. As for the fate of the Sceptre, it came lose and ran aground, wrecking about 900 m off Northumberland Point and by the 27th had broken its back.

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South Africa: Hotbank, Fairholme, Doryssa & Rooijantjies Fontein shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

April 25:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1873: Hotbank, this British wooden snow sprang a leak after striking an object and was subsequently run ashore, where it wrecked, at Cape Recife in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1888: Fairholme, this iron British sailing vessel was abandoned after catching fire off Cape Agulhas. The crew had been taken off by the German barque Olga and it eventually sank approximately 1.5 km west of Knysna Heads in the Western Cape. The wreck site can be dived and is around 10m in depth but requires a very calm ocean due to the strong currents.

1943: Doryssa, this British motor-powered petroleum tanker was sunk by the Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci about 450 km South-south-west of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A total of 53 people died during the event and 9 were rescued by the whaler Southern Breeze and landed in Cape Town. This would be the final vessel claimed by the Leonardo da Vinci. It was sunk by the HMS Active and HMS Ness with a depth charge, almost 500 km out at sea, on the 23rd May on its way to Bordeaux.

Doryssa (1943), anchored in Table Bay, date unknown

1989: Rooijantjies Fontein, this South African fishing vessel capsized and sank off Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape with the loss of one life.

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South Africa: Arion, Eliza, Catherine Marie, Fidela & Hamlet shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

April 7:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

Otavi shipwreck in Namibia

1854: Arion, this sailing brig wrecked on the east bank of the Breede River mouth in the Western Cape after its cables parted. 

1863: Eliza, this sailing brig wrecked at Mouille Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1873: Catherine Marie, this vessel struck Molteno Reef and subsequently wrecked at the west pier of the harbour at the Kowie River Mouth in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

1873: Fidela, this iron steam and sail powered transport/mail vessel wrecked in fog approx. 1 mile north of the Cape Recife Lighthouse in the Eastern Cape. Practice concrete bombs were dropped on the site during WWII and are still visible. 

1927: Hamlet, this iron steam-powered coaster wrecked near the South Head lighthouse in Saldanha Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape in thick fog.

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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: St Clair, Conservative, Sappho, Portsmouth & Cape Point shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Benguela Eagle shipwreck in Namibia

March 14:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1838: St Clair, this British wooden sailing vessel wrecked in a south easterly gale off Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape with the loss of several lives (the exact number being unknown).

1843: Conservative, this British wooden sailing vessel is presumed to have wrecked or foundered somewhere north of Yzerfontein, possibly near Vondeling Island in the Western Cape. Its wrecking was under mysterious circumstances as there was no indication of it having wrecked with the only evidence being six bodies that washed ashore.

1864: Sappho, this British wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south easterly gale at Blaauwbergstrand in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1866: Portsmouth, this American sailing brig wrecked after its cables parted in a north westerly gale just east of the Coega River Mouth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. The cook drowned whilst trying to swim to shore.

1982: Cape Point, this South African steel-hulled motor-powered fishing trawler wrecked after running onto rocks south of the Gourits River mouth in the Western Cape.

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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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South Africa: Haddon Hall, Bokkeveld II, Theresa III & Tara shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

February 1:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1913: Haddon Hall, this British steam-powered steel cargo liner wrecked at Morison’s Point in Danger Bay, just west of Saldanha Bay on the west coast in the Western Cape.

After running aground three members of the crew jumped overboard and drowned, whereas the remaining crew of 54 got off safely. The wreck now lies at about 10m in depth. The provided image is a painting of the Haddon Hall, painted a year before it was lost by an unknown artist (potentially a 'pierhead painter').

1959: Simon van der Stel, a Comair Lockheed 18 Lodestar (registration no. ZS-ASV), this passenger transport aircraft was ditched (which means to land on a water surface in a controlled manner) in the ocean, off Ifafa Beach in KwaZulu-Natal. It was on a newspaper delivery route from Durban to Port Elizabeth when an engine failure resulted in the captain being unable to maintain height. The crew of three survived, with the aircraft sinking.

1978: Bokkeveld II, this South African fishing vessel foundered near Shark Point between Cape St. Francis and St. Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1986: Theresa III, this whaler was scuttled for target practice off the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. It was meant to be used a floating breakwater in Saldanha Bay, but a south-easterly gale drove it onto the rocks at Salamander Bay and after an inspection of the damage, the choice was made to have the SAS Kimberley tow it to Simons Town instead. Here it was scuttled for target practice by the South African Navy.

2016: Tara, this South African yacht wrecked in fog at Bokpunt, just north of Koeberg in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Emma, Indian Packet, Pescadora, Blackstone, Lockett, Felicia II & Jidy Aym shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

January 4:

1961, Simferopol, Walvis Bay, Namibia

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1821: On this date a north-westerly gale struck Table Bay in the Western Cape, grounding at least five vessels, two of which are confirmed to have wrecked:

• Emma, this British vessel wrecked at Woodstock beach,

• Indian Packet, this Danish schooner wrecked near the Salt River mouth with the crew being saved by a Francis Rose, who drowned in the end. 

1839: Pescadora, this Portuguese wooden sailing schooner wrecked on a reef near the entrance of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

1846: Blackstone, this wooden sailing barque was put into Table Bay in the Western Cape for repairs but was instead abandoned and broken up. 

1884: Lockett/Lochett, this British wooden sailing barque wrecked in a south-easterly wind on the west bank of the Buffalo River in East London in the Eastern Cape. The enquiry into the wrecking reported that it was in a state of disrepair, having sailed from Plymouth in a leaky condition and requiring a new anchor whilst berthed in East London. 

1973: Felicia II, this motor-powered vessel wrecked at Danger Point in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it. 

2006: Jidy Aym, this South African fishing vessel was capsized by a freak wave off Dassen Island in the Western Cape resulting in the death of three crew members.

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South Africa: Rusholme & Nightingale shipwrecks

Margate, Natal, South Africa

1923: Rusholme, this coasting steamer foundered on Ostara Rock, south of Port Nolloth on the west coast. She was a small coasting steamer with a rich history. Originally a dredger by the name of Baggar 1, she worked on the Namibian coast, and was scuttled at the start of World War I.

She was subsequently refloated and used as a lighter, known as the Flora. She was then acquired by Globe Engineering Company who fitted her with new boilers and engines. In this incarnation she was used as a salvage vessel and recovered much of the timber cargo of the Losna on the Transkei coast, and of the Eugenie S Embiricos. She was then involved in the coasting trade between Cape Town and Saldanha Bay.

On her first trip to Port Nolloth, on the homeward journey, she foundered on Ostara Rock, south of Port Nolloth on the west coast. Her crew reached Port Nolloth in the ship’s boats and no lives were lost.

1933: Nightingale, this steel steamship fishing trawler was stranded in fog and wrecked on Munster / Glenmore beach on the south coast in KwaZulu-Natal. Many of her parts can still be seen on the beach and she makes for a popular tourist attraction.

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South Africa: Evelyn, Resolute, Sappho & City of Hankow shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 18:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1863: Evelyn, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked in a north-westerly wind on Sunbeam Rock at Danger Point in the Western Cape. Four lives were lost because of the wrecking.

1898: Resolute, this steam-powered coaster wrecked near Paternoster on the west coast in the Western Cape. All ten that were on board drowned.

1903: Sappho, this Norwegian wooden barque was abandoned at sea, south west of Cape Town in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it.

1942: City of Hankow, this steam-powered cargo ship wrecked at Long Point in Danger Bay near Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape.

City of Hankow, date and location unknown

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South Africa: Paternoster

Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast of South Africa. It is located 15 km north-west of Vredenburg and 145 km north of Cape Town, at Cape Columbine between Saldanha Bay and St Helena Bay.

The town covers an area of 194.8 hectare and has approximately 1883 inhabitants.

The origin of the name remains unknown. Many people believe that the name, which means ‘Our Father’ in Latin, refers to prayers said by Catholic Portuguese seamen when they became shipwrecked.

It appears as St. Martins Paternoster on an old map of Pieter Mortier so the name may be derived from Paternoster Row in the City of London which is adjacent to St. Martins Court. Other people believe it refers to the beads that the Khoi tribe wore that were called Paternosters.

The area has an array of interesting sea life and wildlife to observe. Activities include whale, dolphin, seal and penguin watching as well as bird watching with over 225 bird species in the area.

Sporting activities range from kayaking, kitesurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, kite flying, hiking, and for the brave – swimming in the cold West Coast water!

During spring the area is transformed into a floral paradise, with wild flowers growing everywhere forming the South-Western fringe of the famous flower carpets of Namaqualand.

Visitors can pay a visit to the Cape Columbine nature reserve. The reserve covers an area of 263 hectare along the rocky stretch of coastline. The bay, which is part of the reserve, has many picnic spots and braai facilities.

Cape Columbine light house is the last manually controlled lighthouse in South Africa. The lighthouse was built in 1936 on Castle Rock. The light cast a beam which is visible from about 50 km and is usually the first South African lighthouse seen by ships coming from Europe.

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