South Africa: Jason, Viking, Linnet, Crusader, Kingfisher, Mooivlei, Girl Anne & Padre shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Chamarel wreck in Namibia

February 25:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1869: Jason, this vessel wrecked in either False Bay or Table Bay in the Western Cape after being blown off the slip during a heavy south-easter whilst in for repairs. The Jason ran ashore near Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape on the 14th of January and was abandoned by its crew. The steamer HMS Racoon managed to get it off and towed it back to the Cape. It was here, on this day, whilst on the slip in either Table Bay or False Bay that it was blown into the water by a heavy south-easter, where it swung ashore and wrecked. 

1898: Viking, this steam-powered vessel returned to harbour in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal 5 hours after leaving for a fishing trip and wrecked. It got caught out in heavy seas whilst crossing the bar, capsized, and started sinking quickly. The tugboats Sir John and Richard King as well as the dredger Beaver were outside at the time and immediately assisted. The Sir John picked up two survivors whilst three further survivors made it to shore. Eight members of the crew were not as fortunate and drowned.  

1906: Linnet, this British steel steam-powered fishing trawler wrecked at the mouth of the Shelbertsstroom estuary in Kaysers Beach in the Eastern Cape because of the the sudden onset of an easterly current. Of the 18 that were on board, three lives were lost.

1910: Crusader, this steel steam-powered cargo ship wrecked on a reef just east of Bird Island in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.

1953: Kingfisher, this motor-powered ski boat foundered after being caught out by a ‘freak’ wave in the Umgeni River mouth in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal with the loss of all six lives that were on board. 

1964: Mooivlei, this South African motor-powered fishing vessel was scuttled off Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape.

1969: Girl Anne, this South African fishing vessel wrecked just south of the Groenrivier Lighthouse in the Northern Cape due to heavy fog. 

1992: Padre, this motor-powered ski boat capsized in heavy weather and foundered at 12 Mile Bank off Struisbaai in the Western Cape with the loss of three lives.

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South Africa: Hamilla Mitchell, Star of Wales, Transvaal, Wagrein, Reno, British Peer & Ellis S shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 8:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1844: Hamilla Mitchell, this wooden sailing brig wrecked south of Cape Voltas, between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

1874: The south-westerly gale that claimed seven vessels in the Eastern Cape from the 5th to the 7th finally calmed, but on this day, a south-easterly gale sprang up in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, claiming three vessels: 

• Star of Wales, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked south of the Umgeni River. Whilst anchored outside the harbour, both its anchors dragged, and the bow dipped below the waves. The cables parted and it was driven ashore in the early hours of the morning, where it shattered and was destroyed within 10 minutes. Of the crew of five that were on board, one man washed ashore after having clung to a piece of floating timber, and the other washed ashore later with no recollection of the event occurring. The other three were presumed drowned. 

• Transvaal, this wooden sailing barque wrecked south of the Umgeni River, and after striking the rocks it began breaking up immediately. Onlookers watched in horror as all twelve on board perished. 

• Wagrein, this sailing schooner wrecked at an unknown location along the Durban coastline with the loss of all hands. 

1883: Reno, this Italian sailing barque missed its stays at night and wrecked at Mouille Point in the Western Cape.

1896: British Peer, this 3-masted iron sailing vessel wrecked at Grotto Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape with the loss of 19 of the crew of 23. Two graves were disturbed during development work in 1991 at Ganzekraal and it is believed that the two men, who were found semi-mummified, perished during the wrecking of the British Peer, and were deliberately buried in the dunes.

2017: Ellis S, this South African fishing vessel foundered off Danger Point in the Western Cape during heavy weather.

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