History

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 as a prize. "The Slave Trade, The slaver ”Josephine,” Lieut. Jamieson charge, one of the three slavers captured her Majesty's steamer Thunderbolt, arrived at Table Bay on January 28, having board 457 … [Read more...] about 29 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 Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. … [Read more...] about 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 War I. It was subsequently re-floated and used as a lighter, known as the Flora. After that it was acquired by the Globe Engineering Company who fitted it with new boilers and engines. … [Read more...] about 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 Port Nolloth off the west coast in the Northern Cape. Philip Laing started his own yard in 1818 at Deptford. In 1844 James Laing took control of the Deptford yard. … [Read more...] about 23 January Shipwreck List

1883: Thames, this sail driven lighter struck the propeller of the SS Rothesay off Durban in KwaZulu-Natal and foundered. … [Read more...] about 21 January Shipwreck List

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 provisions. They made the journey to Cape Town on foot. In 1984 a salvage company found its remains and, under a National Monument’s Council permit, started excavating the wreck. Only a … [Read more...] about 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 wrecked on the NW point at 02:30 during a SE gale after entering Table Bay to take on fresh water. No lives were lost. The captain, whilst searching for landmarks on the night of 17-01, spotted Table … [Read more...] about 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) Louise Marlene and Herlille, foundered in rough sea south west of the Slangkop lighthouse, off Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula in the Western Cape. Four men from the Herlille … [Read more...] about 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 have moored in the Bay of Natal. On its way back to Cape Town it struck Klippen Point and wrecked. The entire crew survived the wrecking and reportedly abandoned the stricken vessel during low tide without … [Read more...] about 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 Figilante (Danish) and was first wrecked during the Great Gale of 1865 in Table Bay. She was subsequently overhauled and relaunched as Ruby. She was insured in the Equitable Marine and the Commercial Offices for … [Read more...] about 15 January Shipwreck List