Algoa Bay Marine Activities

1844: Mary, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale. It was driven onto the jetty, so the crew managed to simply jump off without a loss of life. 1852: Espiegle, this sailing schooner wrecked in a south-westerly gale on… Read more: 4 March Shipwreck List

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… Read more: 27 February Shipwreck List

1854: Mary Jenkins, this coaster foundered near the Mtata River in the Eastern Cape with the loss of all that were on board. 1882: Queen of Ceylon, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. Its cables parted in a strong north-easterly gale and after putting down a second anchor, it… Read more: 3 March Shipwreck List

1842: Legionier, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked after its cables parted in a south-easterly gale at the Baakens River Mouth in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. 1852: Juno, this Dutch sailing barque wrecked in dense fog directly below the lighthouse at Agulhas Point in the Western Cape with the loss of… Read more: 2 March Shipwreck List

1848: Chanticleer, this South African iron schooner struck a rock on the east bank of the Kowie River in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape and foundered. 1956 (possibly 1959): Rondebosch, this motor-powered fishing boat wrecked at night on the northern sandbank of the Mvoti/Hlimbitwa River Mouth in KwaZulu-Natal. It is reported that the man… Read more: 1 March Shipwreck List

1892: Alcestis, this British steel steam-powered ship foundered after striking a sunken wreck about 2.5km off Cape Agulhas/L’Agulhas in the Western Cape. The SS Guernsey picked the crew and the Customs Department labelled it a massive danger to navigation at the time. 1966: Glenwilliam, this South African fishing vessel was abandoned due to a severe… Read more: 28 February Shipwreck List

1852: Birkenhead, this British iron paddle-driven steam-powered frigate was en route to the Buffalo River in East London with reinforcements for the Eighth Frontier War when it wrecked off Danger Point in the Western Cape. It struck an uncharted rock at night in calm weather and broke up within 20 minutes. Only two lifeboats were… Read more: 26 February Shipwreck List

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… Read more: 25 February Shipwreck List

1880: Svanen, this Swedish wooden sailing barque was rammed in the Table Bay Harbour in the Western Cape by the Portuguese steamer ‘India’ and although it did not founder, it was condemned because of the damage it sustained. 1932: Snipe, this steel steam-powered dredger was condemned and dismantled with the hull being scuttled in 40-meter-deep… Read more: 24 February Shipwreck List

1673: Grundel, this Dutch East India Company Hoeker wrecked near Cape Hangklip between Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay in the Western Cape. An attempt was made on its return from Batavia to stop and to take on water in Madagascar, but the French had taken occupation of the island and drove off the Dutch with… Read more: 20 February Shipwreck List

1913: Hugelia, this iron steam-powered fishing trawler of 153 tons and built in 1892 was wrecked just west of the Keiskamma river mouth near Hamburg in the Eastern Cape. The Captain and the Mate having allowed an inexperienced person at the wheel in a dark night while navigating a dangerous coast. FV Hugelia was built… Read more: 19 February Shipwreck List

1938: Panaghia, this Glasgow built (1928) steel steam-powered freighter wrecked in Seal Bay, in Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape due to dense fog. Its boilers can reportedly still be seen at low tide. This happened whilst she was sailing from Argentina to Australia in ballast. Captain Pettersen salvaged the wreck. Panaghia was built… Read more: 18 February Shipwreck List

1857: Euridyce, this British brig wrecked on North End beach in Gqeberha Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape after its cables parted during a south-easterly gale and the Euridyce struck the barque Alexandrina. 1940: Cheldale, this British steel steam-powered cargo ship was lost north east of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal after a collision… Read more: 17 February Shipwreck List

1686: Stavenisse, this Dutch East Indiaman of 544 tons wrecked at what is presumed to be near the Mzimkulu River mouth at Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal resulting in the loss of eleven lives from the crew of 71. The rest of the crew encountered survivors of the Good Hope (1685) and the Bona Ventura (1686).… Read more: 16 February Shipwreck List

1834: L’Aigle, this wooden French whaler ran aground at Slangkop Beach near Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape and wrecked. Three lives were lost because of the wrecking. There is speculation that some packed stones on the hills just south of the lighthouse is actually an unmarked grave of one of those… Read more: 15 February Shipwreck List

1830: Lady Holland, this wooden vessel of 455 tons and built in 1811 and commanded by Captain J. Snell struck a reef at 22h00 north-east of Dassen Island off the west coast in the Western Cape and wrecked. Its passengers and crew made it onto Dassen Island using the boats before being rescued. Lady Holland… Read more: 13 February Shipwreck List

1847: Robert, this British ship of 595 tons sprang a leak and had to be run ashore near the Lourens River mouth at Strand in False Bay in the Western Cape, where it wrecked. Some of the houses in the area were reportedly built with its main cargo of teak from Maulmein, Burma which was… Read more: 12 February Shipwreck List

1817: Emu, this sail-driven transport brig was the first vessel to attempt to enter Knysna Lagoon in the Western Cape, where it promptly wrecked. It was originally built as a merchant brig and was hired and equipped as an armed transport by the Royal Navy. After having been discharged from the Colony of New South… Read more: 11 February Shipwreck List

1892: Lieutenant Maury, this British wooden barque of around 350 tons 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.… Read more: 10 February Shipwreck List

1876: Lady MacDonald, this British wooden barque of 593 tons built in 1847 of teak in Maulmein, Burma and was wrecked on the northern coastline of Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. Commanded by Captain J. Hinks Lady MacDonald was on a voyage from London with general cargo including ironwork intended for… Read more: 9 February Shipwreck List

1832: Adelaide, this British wooden barque of 640 tons was wrecked in an easterly gale in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. An unknown number of people drowned but one record mentions that ‘several men drowned’. Adelaide was built in 1832 in Calcutta and was on a voyage from Madras with Indian immigrants. 1861: Miles Barton, this British… Read more: 8 February Shipwreck List

1836: Gondolier, this British brig under command of Captain R. Rhodes wrecked on Robben Island whilst entering Table Bay in the Western Cape. Agent: Thomson, Watson & Co. The Gondolier had put into Cape Town for provisions. At 03:15 on 01-02, while leaving Table Bay, she foundered on Robben Island. Some of her cargo was… Read more: 7 February Shipwreck List

1840: Friends Goodwill, this wooden slaver schooner wrecked near St Helena Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape. 1866: Runnymede, this wooden sailing vessel (most probably a barque) wrecked near Wreck Point, just west of Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape after springing a leak. The crew managed to reach Algoa Bay in… Read more: 6 February Shipwreck List

1821: L’Eclair, this French wooden sailing vessel commanded by Caprtain Pronck was wrecked at Blaauwberg in Table Bay in the Western Cape whilst trying to enter the bay at night. Six lives were lost during the event. L’Eclair was on a voyage from Batavia to Antwerp. 1857: Albert, this South African wooden schooner struck Danger… Read more: 5 February Shipwreck List

1876: Albert Juhl, this 3-masted schooner wrecked on Orient Beach in East London in the Eastern Cape. Albert Juhl was under the command of Captain Ruchholts. A rocket line was fired but the crew did not know how to attach. Eventually a basket was rigged up and all lives were saved. 1938: Eclair, this 173… Read more: 4 February Shipwreck List

1847: Thunderbolt, this wooden naval paddle steamer (which was also sail rigged) was returning from a survey of the Buffalo River Mouth when it struck a reef after rounding Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape. The captain managed to bring it into Algoa Bay and beached the steamer near the mouth of the Baakens River.… Read more: 3 February Shipwreck List

1887: Jorawur (ex HMS Vulcan), this 1 736 tons iron sailing vessel was damaged after a storm on the 29th June 1886 and was put into in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape for repairs on the 9th of July 1886. By the 30th of October 1886, it was condemned and sold off. It remained… Read more: 2 February Shipwreck List

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… Read more: 1 February Shipwreck List

1776: Nieuwe Rhoon, this Dutch East India man wooden sailing vessel of 1150 tons struck whale rock in Table Bay in a south-easterly gale and was badly damaged. It was towed and subsequently beached at the Castle Jetty in Table Bay in the Western Cape, where its cargo was unloaded, and it was left to… Read more: 31 January Shipwreck List

1878: Wheatlandside, this fully-rigged British wooden ship of 1 136 tons was wrecked in a south-easterly gale on North End Beach in Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. On the 16th of December it struck a reef whilst entering the harbour, which caused a hole in its bottom. On this day, a… Read more: 30 January Shipwreck List

1844: Josephine, this wooden sailing schooner (a slaver) was broken up in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It was one of three vessels captured by the HMS Thunderbolt and it was broken up as soon as they arrived in the Cape. There were 457 enslaved people on board when the HMS Thunderbolt took it… Read more: 29 January Shipwreck List

1636: Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, this wooden sailing vessel disappeared at sea along the South African Coast. It was one of two vessels built by the survivors of the Nossa Senhora da Belem, which wrecked on the 24th of July 1635 at the Umzimvubu River mouth in the Eastern Cape. The da Boa Viagem… Read more: 28 January Shipwreck List

1784: Severe, this French man-of-war wrecked on Blaauwbergstrand in Table Bay in the Western Cape after missing its stays and being driven ashore. 1879: Racer, this British wooden sailing brigantine wrecked in a gale somewhere along the Overberg coastline in the Western Cape. One source suggests that it wrecked near Marthapunt, near Skipskop, and another… Read more: 27 January Shipwreck List

1856: Annabella, this sailing barque wrecked in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. It struck the bar whilst entering Durban harbour and wrecked. The bar was renamed from Lee Bank to Annabella bank after this event. Today, the North Pier stands on top of this sandbank. 1917: Matheran, this steel steam-powered cargo liner was the first ship to… Read more: 26 January Shipwreck List

1894: Tordenskjold, this Norwegian barque set sail from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, for Rangoon, Burma with 43 men on board, and was never heard from again, presuming to have foundered shortly after leaving port. 1989: Harvest Pegasus, this motor-powered fishing vessel was scuttled by torpedo from the S.A.S. Emily Hobhouse, south-west of Cape Point off the… Read more: 25 January Shipwreck List

1923: Rusholme, this coasting steamer foundered on Ostara Rock, south of Port Nolloth off the west coast in the Northern Cape. Although a small coasting steamer, the Rusholme had a rich history. Originally a dredger by the name of Baggar 1, it worked on the Namibian coast, and was scuttled at the start of World… Read more: 24 January Shipwreck List

1852: Herschell, this wooden snow wrecked in a strong south-easterly gale near Rietvlei in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 1881: Ocean King, this 419 ton sailing barque, bukit in 1859 by Laing James & Sons Ltd. (Sir James Laing & Sons), Sunderland, foundered within 20 minutes after striking Penguin Rock, about 32km south of… Read more: 23 January Shipwreck List

1796: Ann & Eliza – This British East Indiaman, built in 1789, was travelling from Bengal back to England with a cargo of arrack (alcohol) and rice. All the databases place the wreck between Bushmans River Mouth and Sundays River Mouth (Turner 1988; Morris 2005; Levine 1989; Theal 1897). A 2020 underwater archaeological impact assessment… Read more: 22 January Shipwreck List

1883: Thames, this sail driven lighter struck the propeller of the SS Rothesay off Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and foundered.

1750: Le Centaure/Centaur, this French East Indiaman was on a return trip from Mauritius to France when it ran aground and wrecked between Cape Agulhas and the Ratel river mouth at Die Walle in the Western Cape. All 300 crew and 100 passengers survived the wrecking and managed to salvage some of the cargo and… Read more: 19 January Shipwreck List

1848: Bittern, this 348 ton British wooden snow wrecked in a south-easterly gale on the north-west point of Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape whilst trying to enter Table Bay in the early hours of the morning. She was on route from England for Ceylon/ Madras when she ran aground and was… Read more: 18 January Shipwreck List

1972: Oceana Vlei, this fishing vessel foundered after a fire broke out on board, off Slangkop lighthouse, off Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. She was under the command of Captain G. van Zyl, owned by Da Gama Visbedryf and built by Louw & Halvorsen, Cape Town. 1978: Two trawlers (purse seiners)… Read more: 17 January Shipwreck List

1690: Noord, this VOC wooden sailing galiot wrecked at Klippen Point near Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape. The Noord was on its second voyage to search for survivors of the Stavenisse, when it found three of them at the Bay of Natal. It crossed the bar there and was the first recorded ship to… Read more: 16 January Shipwreck List

1866: Ruby, this sailing schooner wrecked in a strong south-easterly wind at Munro’s Bay in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. Ruby was owned by Mr C. Collier of Cape Town. Ruby was on a voyage from Algoa Bay and had put in at Mossel Bay to ‘fill up’. Ruby originally sailed under the name… Read more: 15 January Shipwreck List

1858: Onward, this sailing schooner wrecked near the Soetfontein Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. 1873: Elizabeth A Oliver, this fully rigged iron-framed wooden sailing barque was beached and became a wreck at Die Plaat at the Cape Nature Walker Bay Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. Locals affectionately know the wreck as the “Tee-Skip”.… Read more: 14 January Shipwreck List

1830: Frances Watson, this wooden sailing brig wrecked in a south-easterly gale at Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. 1850: Rowvonia, this wooden sailing barque which was operating as a slaver, wrecked in a south-easterly gale, after it had been detained by the HMS Pantaloon, in Simons Bay in False Bay in… Read more: 13 January Shipwreck List

1840: Jack Tar, this wooden sailing brig wrecked in a south-easterly gale at Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape. No lives were lost. 1863: Akbar, this British wooden sailing brig of 809 tons missed its stays and wrecked near Rietvlei in Table Bay 4 km south of the Rover (1856) in the… Read more: 12 January Shipwreck List

1878: Elizabeth, this South African cargo boat took on water and sank in Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal after being overloaded. 1880: Philia, this British wooden sailing snow of 236 tons and built in 1862 was wrecked on a rocky outcrop at Santos Beach in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. It was transporting bridge building… Read more: 11 January Shipwreck List

1839: Le Protie, this French wooden whaling brig of 187 tons was wrecked near ‘Farmer Peck’s farm’ at Strandfontein in False Bay in the Western Cape. Commanded by Captain A. Lory Le Protie was wrecked after trying to enter Simon’s Town at night on a voyage from Nantes to the whaling grounds with whale-oil on… Read more: 10 January Shipwreck List

1730: Saxenburg (Saksenburg), this Dutch East Indiaman struck a reef and then foundered during a heavy gale off Cape Agulhas/ L’Agulhas in the Western Cape. Of the 88 that were on board, only seven survived. Some sources list the year of wrecking as 1729 and some list the wrecking as on 8 January 1730. This… Read more: 9 January Shipwreck List

1806: Bato, this 74-gun 800 ton Dutch ship of the line was set on fire and scuttled on Long Beach in Simons Town in False Bay in the Western Cape on 8 January 1806 – te same day that the Battle of Blaauwberg began. On the 27th of February 1804, it was deemed unseaworthy, and… Read more: 8 January Shipwreck List

1846: A strong north-westerly gale claimed two ships and 21 lives in Table Bay, in the Western Cape: Diana, this Portuguese wooden sailing barque of 294 tons had operated as a slaver when it was captured and taken as a prize by the HMS Mutine. It was lying in Table Bay when the gale drove… Read more: 7 January Shipwreck List

1780: Mentor, this Dutch East Indiaman of 1150 tons foundered on a reef off Cape Aghulhas on the southern Cape coast in the Western Cape. Only two of the crew survived, having been found four days later, clinging to a piece of the poop deck by the French merchant ship, Le Saloman. Mentor was built… Read more: 5 January Shipwreck List

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 of 467 tons was wrecked at Woodstock beach. Emma was built of teak in India in 1813. She was commanded by Captain C. Baumgardt… Read more: 4 January Shipwreck List

1861: Lord George Bentinck, this British wooden sailing barque of 592 tons was wrecked on Back Beach in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal after its defective cables parted in a north-easterly wind. The Lord George Bentinck was built in 1848 at Sunderland and commanded by Captain George Case. She was on a voyage from New York with… Read more: 3 January Shipwreck List

1869: Hopefield Packet, this sailing coasting schooner wrecked at Camps Bay in Cape Town in the Western Cape. The Hopefield Packet was on a voyage to Dyer Island with part of her cargo of stores. 1909: Evening Star, this wooden steam-powered fishing vessel wrecked near Cove Rock in East London in the Eastern Cape.

1872: Elizabeth Brown, this British wooden sailing snow/brig of 234 tons was wrecked in a south-easterly gale at Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Elizabeth Brown was built in 1854 in Perth, Australia. Her cables parted whilst at anchor in Algoa Bay and carrying 500 bales of wool. No livew were lost. 1872: North East,… Read more: 31 December Shipwreck List

1854: Drei Thurme, this 2 masted German sailing brig of 150 tons was wrecked in a south-easterly gale at Struispunt in the Western Cape. Two lives were lost because of the wrecking. The Drei Thurme was built by Lohse, Helsingør (Elsinore – Helsingor), under the ownership of Hertz, Jacob Adolph, Hamburg and commanded by Captain… Read more: 30 December Shipwreck List

1841: Sovereign, this wooden sailing schooner commanded by Captain J. Ancker was wrecked at the Knysna Heads in the Western Cape after leaving the Knysna harbour. No lives were lost. 1893: Emin, this German steam-powered ship left Durban in KwaZulu-Natal for Delagoa Bay with a cargo of coal on this day and was never heard… Read more: 29 December Shipwreck List

1811: Clipper, this wooden sailing brig wrecked near the Battery on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay in the Western Cape. Very little is known about it. 1911: Falcon, this British iron steam-powered ship wrecked in thick fog at Green Point at Clansthal in KwaZulu-Natal.