Cease of operations date is not known. An abandoned rusted oil drilling rig, located near Toscanini, was operational in the late 60's and early 70's. Rig is equipped with main power unit, V16 Caterpillar engine and was installed by brave local entrepreneurs long before the Skeleton Coast National Park was proclaimed. Today, rusty structure provides a nesting area for birds during breeding season.
Some old sail ship ribs and beams were visible above the high water mark at the Omaruru River mouth. Visitors like Hentie van der Merwe and Sergeant Ross of the Omaruru police used to cut their bait on one of the large beams. In later years some of these wooden sail ship beams might have been used as building material for some of the first holiday houses erected at Henties Bay, or carried away by one of the salt companies who operated further north.
Excerpt from Dr. Vedder "Das alte Sudwestafrika", 1981 book:
“Herero chief Hembapu returned along the coast towards the Omaruru River after a raid on some Nama further south. At the river mouth they came upon a shipwreck and two naked white men – white people they had never seen before. They gave them Omaire. The one man died shortly afterwards. They slaughtered an ox in order to leave some meat for the other survivor. The Hereros then commenced trekking further inland along the Omaruru River.” Unfortunately, no date of that particular incident is known.
