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TheShipwrecks of Cape Town are theshipwrecks in the waters of theAtlantic Ocean in the vicinity ofCape Town,South Africa. They include any wreck that is in the waters off the shores of theCity of Cape Town metropolitan area, and those which are now inshore of thehigh-water mark due to land reclamation, shifting sands, or being cast up by stormy seas. The geographical area extends fromSilwerstroomstrand north ofRobben Island,Table Bay, around theCape Peninsula andFalse Bay to the vicinity ofKogel Bay on the east side of False Bay. Several of these wrecks are suitablesites for recreational scuba diving, and may be described in dive guides for the region. Others are inaccessible due to depth or being on the shore, or buried undersediments orlandfill, and some have not yet been found or identified.[1]
Some of the wrecks carried valuable cargo, and where practicable salvage efforts have been made to recover such cargo.[2] On other occasions cargo and fuel have been recovered as far as reasonably practicable to mitigate the effects on the environment of hazardous materials.[3][4]
Some of the wrecks are classified as historically important and are legally protected as part of the national heritage, and some of these have been studied as archaeological sites.[1][5]
The coastline of Cape Town is roughly 307 km long, fromSilwerstroomstrand at33°34′14.994″S18°20′34.959″E / 33.57083167°S 18.34304417°E /-33.57083167; 18.34304417 on the west coast to slightly south ofKogelbaai at34°16′10.554″S18°50′44.905″E / 34.26959833°S 18.84580694°E /-34.26959833; 18.84580694 on the east coast of False Bay.[6] The coast may be subdivided into theBloubergstrand (the northern part of the mainland coast),Robben Island,Table Bay, theAtlantic Seaboard (west coast of the north peninsula),Hout Bay and theSouth Peninsula west coasts, and theFalse Bay west, north, and east coasts.[2]
The coastline between the large rocky promontory atBokpunt and Silwerstroomstrand and the harbour wall at the current mouth of theSalt River, is mostly a long sandy beach with a few small, and low rocky promontories.Much of the coastline of Table Bay has been modified by coastal and civil engineering works for thePort of Cape Town. As a consequence a significant number of wreck sites in the region have been covered byland reclamation work between the Salt River mouth andMouille Point.[2]: 147
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Tidal range is moderate, with about 1.8 to 1.9 m range at spring tide on both sides of the peninsula, andtidal currents are negligible.[7]
Thebathymetry of False Bay differs in character from the west side of the Cape Peninsula. The west coast seabed tends to slope down more steeply than in False Bay, and although the close inshore waters are also shallow, the 100 m contour is mostly within about 10 km of the west coast, while the entire False Bay is shallower than about 80 m.[8] The bottom of False Bay slopes down relatively gradually from the gently sloping beaches of the north shore to the mouth, and is fairly even in depth from east to west except close to the shorelines.[9] Table Bay is relatively shallow, and slopes gently from east to west, reaching a maximum depth of 35 m at the centre of its mouth. The bottom is mostly fairly low reef of hardshales,slates andsandstone of theMalmesbury group, similar to the shores to the south and north, with extensive patches of fine and coarse sand[10]
Cape Town has aMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csb, borderingCsa),[12][13][14] with mild, moderately wet winters and dry, warm summers. Winter, which lasts from June to September, may see large cold fronts entering for limited periods from the Atlantic Ocean with significantprecipitation and strong north-westerly winds. Winter months in the city average a maximum of 18 °C (64 °F) and minimum of 8.5 °C (47 °F).
Summer, which lasts from December to March, is warm and dry with an average maximum of 26 °C (79 °F) and minimum of 16 °C (61 °F). The region can get uncomfortably hot when theBerg Wind, meaning "mountain wind", blows from theKaroo interior.
Spring and summer generally feature a strong wind from the south-east, This wind is caused by a persistenthigh-pressure system over theSouth Atlantic to the west of Cape Town, known as theSouth Atlantic High, which shifts latitude seasonally, following the sun, and influencing the strength of the fronts and their northward reach. Cape Town receives about 3,100 hours of sunshine per year.[15]
Unlike other parts of the country the city does not have manythunderstorms, and most of those that do occur, happen around October to December and March to April.
The winds have a strong influence on the waves and water circulation. The wind follows a characteristic pattern, which shifts in latitude with the seasons and follows theRossby waves as they move eastwards over the southern ocean. A southwesterly wind follows the passage of acold front as the anticyclone moves east and merges with theSouth Atlantic High, producing strong south-easterly winds. The high pressure cell moves further over the tip of Africa and splits off the South Atlantic High, with weakening south easterly winds, followed by a coastal low with north-westerly wind before the next cold front, bringing cool, wet westerly wind which passes around Table Mountain and converges as a northerly wind over False Bay.[9]
The South Atlantic High shifts latitude with the seasons, following the sun, and this causes a large variation in the wind pattern over the passage of the year. In summer it moves south and the south-easterly winds dominate, and on average are strongest during January and February. During winter the northward shift allows the fronts to extend further north with stronger north-westerly winds and more frequent and heavier rain. The winter winds tend to be strongest in June and are generally northwesterly. The transition periods are around April and September.[9]
TheEl Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects the winds and rainfall over this region. During El Niño the south-easterly winds, while during La Niña the same winds are stronger. These effects on the winds are part of large scale influences on the tropical Atlantic and theSouth Atlantic High-pressure system, and changes to the pattern of westerly winds further south. There are other influences not known to be related to ENSO of similar importance. Some ENSO events do not lead to the expected changes.[16]
Local variations in wind direction and strength are caused by interaction with the mountains on both sides of False Bay. South-easterly winds are accelerated northwest of Cape Hangklip, and a distinct wind shadow can develop in the lee of the Kogelberg mountain. Northwesterly winds accelerate over Table Mountain and approach False Bay from varying directions depending on the local topography. Temperature differences between land and water can also produce diurnal variations of wind speed and direction, particularly in summer.[9]
Eastward-moving atmosphericRossby waves move across the area at 3 to 20 day intervals, mostly in winter from May to September, and the subtropical ridge is replaced by coastal lows followed by northwesterly winds and frontal troughs that bring rain, stormy winds and seas.[17]
The prevailingswell around Cape Town is long period (12 to 15 secons) swells from the southwest with an average height of about 3 m.[9]These swells are generated far offshore to the southwest of the continent, and the anchorages at both Table Bay andSimon's Town are well protected from them.
Storm waves are generated by northwest gales in winter and southeast gales in summer. Table Bay is very exposed to wind and waves from the northwest, but well protected from waves from the southeast, whileSimon's Bay and the other western False Bay anchorages are exposed to southeast wind and waves, except where harbour breakwater structures have been built.
The history of the shipwrecks of Cape Town is part of the history of the shipping route around Africa, the history of the colonisation of South Africa and the history of the people of the region once they reached the stage of operating shipping in these waters.[1][18]
The wrecks include those of explorers, traders, fishing vessels, passenger vessels and warships, sunk by misadventure, acts of war, military exercises, to create artificial reefs, and to dispose of redundant equipment.[1][18]
The European-Asian sea route, commonly known as the sea route to India or theCape Route, is ashipping route from the European coast of theAtlantic Ocean to Asia's coast of theIndian Ocean passing by theCape of Good Hope andCape Agulhas at the southern edge of Africa. The first recorded completion of the route was made in 1498 byPortuguese explorerVasco da Gama, the admiral of the firstPortuguese Armadas bound eastwards to make thediscovery. The route was most important during theAge of Sail, but became partly obsolete after theSuez Canal opened in 1869.[19][20][18]
Cape Town is a major port city historically serving a large part of the hinterland of South Africa. It has two major harbours, thePort of Cape Town in Table Bay, and theSimon's Town Naval Base, in False Bay. It has intermittently heavy international sea traffic, and anchorages which are protected in some weather conditions and exposed in others. It is variously known as theCape of Storms, and theCape of Good Hope.[18] It exhibits the characteristic features of a "shipwreck graveyard", in that it has had high shipping traffic over a long period, has several major navigational hazards, frequent bad weather conditions, was poorly charted for quite a long time, and has a major port with exposed anchorages, often containing a fairly large number of ships.[21] An additional reason for some of the wrecks is scuttling to dispose of obsolescent equipment. As a major fishing harbour during the 20th century, there were frequently old fishing vessels to be disposed of, and in the days before electronic navigational aids, collisions in the anchorage and harbour approaches during bad weather and fog were more frequent. The initial establishment of a settlement at the Cape which became Cape Town was a consequence of its position on the trade route, and was influenced by some of the wreckings, and the availability of fresh water.[5]
In 1647, the DutchEast IndiamanNieuwe Haerlem was wrecked near the northeastern shore of Table Bay. The crew, with one exception, got off safely, and some were taken aboard by another Dutch ship and two English ships, while the rest stayed to attempt to salvage the cargo. These men also built a fortified shelter and explored the vicinity. They and the cargo they were able to salvage were taken back to the Netherlands by the returningVerenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) fleet of the following year. A report by two of the men to the directors of the VOC persuaded them of the potential benefits of a refreshment station at Table Bay, and in 1652,Jan van Riebeeck was sent to the Cape to establish such a refreshment station.[22]: 22–23
False Bay was proclaimed the winter anchorage after a severe storm on 21 May 1737 wrecked eight out of the ten VOC ships in Table Bay in a single night.[23] TheIepenrode,Flora,Paddenburg,Duinbeek,Goudriaan,Rodenrijs,Buis, andWesterbeek were driven onto alee shore when their moorings parted at anchor, in what has been described as the greatest maritime disaster in the history of the VOC. 208 men died and cargo to the value of 1,921,532 guildes was lost, nearly 30% of the total cargo value for that year. At the request ofGovernor-General van Imhoff, in 1742 the company prohibited anchoring in Table Bay between 15 May and 15 August.[22]: 46–48
Construction of the harbour in Table Bay was started in 1860. The design included abreakwater to protect the entrance.[2] This harbour was completed in 1870 and included the Robinson dry dock, the Alfred Basin, a slipway for repairs and a breakwater constructed largely from the rubble excavated from the harbour basin.[24]
During the construction of the harbour, in the great gale of 17 May 1865, 18 ships were driven aground in Table Bay, of which seven were wrecked: TheFernande,Alacrity,Deane,Royal Arthur,Kehrweider, RMSAthens, andCity of Peterborough. The others were beached but refloated later, including:Galatea,Jane,Star of the West,Clipper,Frederick Bassel,Isabel,Figilante, andMaria Johanna[2]: 128
The harbour and breakwater have been extended on several occasions, with the Victoria Basin (1920), Duncan Dock (1945), tanker basin and layup dock(1962) and Ben Schoeman Dock with container terminal (1977).[24]
There are approximately 2800 shipwrecks recorded on theNational Shipwreck Database of which the approximate positions of about 840 are known, and the exact, verified position of over 300 vessels. TheNational Heritage Resources Act (No.25 of 1999) automatically protects any wreck older than 60 years since the date of loss, and can be used to protect more recent wrecks if they are deemed to be worthy of conservation. South Africa became a signatory to theUNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.[5]
Table Bay alone is recorded as the site of about 400 wrecks, of which 70 are now buried under the reclaimed land of the city foreshore.[25]
Thearchaeology of shipwrecks is the field of study specialising inshipwrecks.[15] Its techniques often combine those of archaeology with those ofdiving to becomeUnderwater archaeology, but shipwrecks can also be found on what have become terrestrial sites.[26]
It is necessary to take into account the distortions in the archaeological material caused by events and processes that occur during and after the wrecking.[27] Prior to being wrecked, the ship would have operated as an organised system, and its crew, equipment, passengers and cargo need to be considered as such. The material remains should provide clues to the functions ofseaworthiness,navigation andpropulsion as well as to ship-board life. These clues can also infer how a ship functioned, in relation to social, political, and economic context.[28]
A number of techniques are used when trying to find a specific wreck, or to identify a wreck that has been found:
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10 shipwrecks were positively identified in the vicinity of Robben Island in Operation Sea Eagle, reported in 1994:Bernicia,Daeyang Family,Fong Chung No. 11,Goel No.1,Golden Crown,Natal,Rangatira,Sea Eagle,Solhagen, andTantallon Castle. Five other sites were located but could not be identified. These may have includedA.H. Stevens,Bittern,Il Nazareno,Kingston, andTimor.[31]
Although documents were available which provided approximate positions, seven other vessels could not be found:C. de Eizaguirre,Dageraad,Flora,Forfarshire,Gondolier,Hypatia, andPerseverance.[31]
The Cape Town based private companyWreckless Marine had previously contributed high resolution bathymetric survey data to several marine research agencies including the South AfricanCouncil for Geoscience and theNippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, and during that work had incidentally acquired positional data on several shipwrecks in False Bay, some of which were well known, and others which were at the time, unidentified. They also had access to bathymetric survey data of similar quality from the Council for Geoscience which had been working in parallel on adjacent areas, mostly in Table Bay and the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula.[1]
Wreckless Marine undertook to resurvey those wrecks which were safely accessible with the available equipment at the highest resolution available with their equipment, and with the cooperation of in-house researchers and technical divers, and marine archaeologists from theSouth African Heritage Resources Agency, to identify the wrecks where possible. Dives were made to confirm the identities of some of the wrecks where relevant, as the positional records were often insufficient or ambiguous. This data was published in the bookWood, Iron, and Steel, in 2024, which features information on 60 of the wrecks of the Western Cape, 59 of which are in the coastal waters of Cape Town, and which had been identified to an acceptable level of confidence. In a few cases sister ships had been scuttled in fairly close proximity and it is not practicable to discriminate between them with the available information. Position data for a further 22 as yet unidentified wrecks is also given.[1]
There are many potential causes of shipwrecks, and not all of them necessarily apply in all regions, however a few stand out as particularly relevant in the waters of Cape Town. The single most prevalent cause appears to be being blown onto alee shore, either directly after parting of anchor cables or dragging of anchors, or when overwhelmed by wind and wave while under way, often whileembayed.[a] The causes also vary with time: Navigational error was more common when the waters and their navigational hazards were relatively unknown and poorly charted, and an accurate fix of position at night or in fog was difficult to determine[18][2]
The numbers of shipwrecks can be considered in the context of the number of ships visiting and transiting the region. In the absence of ships there can be no wreckings. More than 60% of all ships arriving in the 18th century up to the end of the 1760s were Dutch, and in some years more than 90%. Most of the rest during this period were English. Throughout this period the number of ships per year was fairly steady at about 50 per year except in the 1720s when it was about 70 per year[23] The arrival of Dutch ships declined after 1770, then rapidly recovered, along with an increase in the numbers of ships of other flags. However, there is no data on the duration of the stay at the Cape for these ships, and it is obvious that the risk of wrecking at anchor is related to the time spent at anchor and the probability of onshore storms during that season, and the risk of multiple wreckings is affected by the number of ships in port at the same time.[23]
Ships that arrived at the Cape required replenisment of food, water and stores for the next stage of the voyage. After the local economy could support it, products were exported, and the Cape provided rest, recuperation and entertainment to crews, and an opportunity for repairs, all of which encouraged ships to stay at anchor longer. Between 1652 and 1793 the average stay was 28 days.[23]A regulation was imposed by the directors on VOC ships in 1652 making it obligatory for them to check in at the Cape, and for this to be documented by the commander at the Cape. Ship's officers were not penalised for the time spent at anchor in the calculations for speedy voyage bonuses, and records show that 93% of VOC vessels travelling in both directions anchored in Table Bay.[23]
These introduction ofchain cable for anchoring was delayed by objections that chain was inelastic, unmanageable, too heavy, and noisy, that it could not be cut, and that it would kink. Invention of the shackle in 1808 solved the problem of cutting and connecting chain. Improvements to the design such as stud links introduced in 1813 by Thomas Brunton reduced kinking problems. Chain cables proved to be considerably more resistant to abrasion thanhemp, which can be critical on a rough rocky bottom.[33] By 1817 all seagoing ships of the Royal Navy offifth-rate or higher were partially outfitted with chain cables, and commercial shipping had started to convert to chain, which also has the advantage of needing less space for storage. By 1840 chain cables were in general use, though hemp was still used by some vessels.[33]
Wreck diving isrecreational diving where thewreckage of ships, aircraft and other artificial structures is explored. The term is used mainly by recreational and technical divers. Professional divers, when diving on a shipwreck, generally refer to the specific task, such as salvage work, accident investigation or archaeological survey. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend toscuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites. The recreation of wreck diving makes no distinction as to how the vessel ended up on the bottom. Some wreck diving involvespenetration of the wreckage, making a direct ascent to the surface impossible for a part of the dive.[34]
A shipwreck may be attractive to divers for any combination of several reasons:
The impact of recreational scuba diving on recreational dive values and the cultural heritage of shipwrecks has been found to comprise four basic types:[35]
1611: A Dutch sealing vesselYeanger of Horn was wrecked on the northern shore of Robben Island.[36][37]
27 July 1618: French jachtJaeger (exPrinsens Jagt), wrecked in Table Bay near Woodstock beach during a northwest gale, at about33°55.00′S18°27.50′E / 33.91667°S 18.45833°E /-33.91667; 18.45833.[2]: 152
16 February 1644: Dutch shipMauritius Eylant ran aground on the rocks at Mouille Point. It was refloated and then run ashore atSalt Riner mouth where the cargo could be more easily salvaged.[38] (orEiland Mauritius.[2]: 150 )
25 March 1647: Dutch East IndiamanNieuwe Haerlem,[38] of 500 tons, built in Amsterdam, wrecked on Milnerton Beach at about33°53.60′S18°28.80′E / 33.89333°S 18.48000°E /-33.89333; 18.48000. It was on a homeward bound journey with two other VOC vessels, theOlifant and theSchiedam. A sudden gale resulted in theHaerlem running aground on Milnerton beach.[39] (Nieuw Haarlem in Turner 1988)[2]: 154
A permanent VOC presence started in Table Bay in 1652.
1660: A Dutch vessel, theSchapenjacht was wrecked on Robben Island.[36] The vessel was completely dismantled and no trace remains.[31]
19 May 1660: French shipLa Maréchale, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth in a northwest gale at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
31 May 1668: Dutch hoekerSchollevaar of 90 tons, wrecked just north of Bokpunt (may be outside the range of Cape Town).[2]: 145
1691: Portuguese warshipSarpine wrecked near Hottentot's Holland during a southeast gale.[40][41][2]: 168
5 June 1692: DutchpinnaceGoede Hoop of 1177 tons, built in 1688 in Amsterdam, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 during a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
5 June 1692: English East IndiamanOrange, wrecked inn Table Bay near the Salt River mouth in a northwest gale at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 154
10 June 1692: DutchjachtHogergeest of 222 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1681, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth near33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 during a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
20 January 1694: The DutchjachtDageraad of 140 tons, built in Zeeland in 1692, which was carrying the treasures of theGoude Buys was wrecked on Robben Island.[36][31]
24 May 1697: Dutch vesselOosterland of 1123 tons, built in Zeeland in 1685, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale, at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 154
24 May 1697: Dutch shipWaddinxveen of 751 tons, built at Rotterdam in 1691, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 in a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157 (Waddingsveen in LaGrange et al 2024)[22]
27 May 1698: DutchpinnaceHet Huis te Craijestein wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 163 Het Huis te Craijestein (or 't Huis 't Kraaijestein) was a 1154-ton Dutch pinas (square rigged galleon) built in 1697 atMiddelburg, Zeeland for the Zeeland chamber of the VOC. Length 48.77 m, beam 11.89 m, d 5.64 m.[1]
The ship was wrecked in 1698 on its maiden voyage atOudekraal on the Cape Peninsula. The anchor cable parted due to abrasion while anchored in fog in Table Bay, and the ship drifted onto the rocks at33°58.850′S18°21.650′E / 33.980833°S 18.360833°E /-33.980833; 18.360833.[1]
The wreck is very broken up, but some timber, cannons and anchors are scattered on the sand among the granite boulders at Sandy Cove, where there is a safe and easy shore entry point for divers. The depth on the sand is about 8 m, and some wreckage may be buried under the sand or exposed, as the sand shifts.[1]
16 June 1722: English East-IndiamanAddison of 400 tons, ran aground at Salt River mouth at33°54.9′S18°27.95′E / 33.9150°S 18.46583°E /-33.9150; 18.46583 in a northwest gale.[2]: 147
16 June 1722: Cape brigantineAmy ran aground at the Castle during a northwest gale at33°55.45′S18°25.7′E / 33.92417°S 18.4283°E /-33.92417; 18.4283.[2]: 148
16 June 1722: English East IndiamanChandois of 440 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale at33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 149
16 June 1722: DutchhoekerGouda of 220 tons, built in Amsterdam in 1719, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 151
16 June 1722: DutchfluytLakenman of 600 tons, built at Enkhuizen in 1718, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 153
16 June 1722: English East IndiamanNightingale of 480 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth during a northwest gale, near33°55.42′S18°27.20′E / 33.92367°S 18.45333°E /-33.92367; 18.45333. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 154
16 June 1722: Dutch East IndiamanRotterdam of 800 tons, built in Rotterdam in 1716, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale at Woodstock Beach. Some cargo and guns were recovered byJohn Lethbridge.[2]: 155 [22]
16 June 1722: Dutch frigateSchotse Lorrendraaier, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 156
16 June 1722: Dutch shipStandvastigheid of 888 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1706, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale. Some of the cargo was salvaged shortly after the wrecking.[2]: 157
16 June 1722: Dutch fluteZoetigheid of 600 tons, built in Delft in 1718 for the VOC, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale. Part of the cargo was recovered by early salvage diverJohn Lethbridge in 1727.[2]: 158
3 July 1728: Dutch vesselMiddenrak of 600 tons, built at Amsterdan in 1717, Wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale near the Salt River mouth.[2]: 154
3 July 1728: Dutch shipStabroek of 900 tons, built in Ansterdan in 1722, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River Mouth during a northwest gate at about33°55.42′S18°27.20′E / 33.92367°S 18.45333°E /-33.92367; 18.45333. Some of the cargo was salvaged by divers working forJohn Lethbridge. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
4 December 1728: Dutch shipHaarlem of 850 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1720, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth near33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
1 July 1736: Dutch brigantineFijenoord of 160 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mout near33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, and now under reclaimed land,[2]: 150
21 May 1737: Dutch shipFlora of 850 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1730, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 in a northwest gale, and is now under reclaimed land.[2]: 150
21 May 1737: Dutch shipDe Buis of 600 tons, built in 1727 at Enkhuizen, wrecked in Table Bay at the mouth of the Salt River at33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 during a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 149
21 May 1737: Dutch East IndiamanDuinbeek of 800 tons, built in Zeeland in 1727, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at33°55.28′S18°27.28′E / 33.92133°S 18.45467°E /-33.92133; 18.45467 during a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 150 (Duinbeek in la Grange et al 2024[22]Duinbreek in Turner)
21 May 1737: DutchfluytGoudriaan of 630 tons, built at Delft in 1719, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, during a northwest gale, and now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
21 May 1737: Dutch East IndiamanIepenrode of 650 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1731, wrecked at the Salt River mouth in Table Bay during a northwest gale at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 152 [22]
21 May 1737: Dutch East IndiamanPaddenburg of 850 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1732, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 155 [22]
21 May 1737: Dutch vesselRodenrijs of 650 tons, built at Rotterdam in 1735, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 during a northwest gale. Now lies under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
21 May 1737: Dutch brigantineVictoria of 160 tons, built at Hoorn in 1724, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale at Woodstock Beach at about33°55.00′S18°27.20′E / 33.91667°S 18.45333°E /-33.91667; 18.45333, now under reclaimed and.[2]: 157
21 May 1737: Dutch vesselWesterwijk of 850 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1735, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth during a northwest gale at about33°54.90′S18°27.96′E / 33.91500°S 18.46600°E /-33.91500; 18.46600. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
6 May 1740: Dutch shipVis of 650 tons, built at Enkhuizen in 1732, wrecked in Table Bay at night a short distance south of Green Point lighthouse at about33°54.20′S18°23.85′E / 33.90333°S 18.39750°E /-33.90333; 18.39750.[2]: 164
25 October 1747: ShipReigersdaal wrecked at Silwerstroomstrand.Dutch East IndiamanReigersdaal was built for the Amsterdam chamber of theDutch East India Company (VOC) in 1738 inAmsterdam.[1]
It was wrecked in shallow water on 25 October 1747 atSilwerstroomsrand at33°35.800′S18°21.200′E / 33.596667°S 18.353333°E /-33.596667; 18.353333. Very little remains of the wreck besides heavily encrusted anchors and cannon. The site is unsuited to survey using multibeam sonar as it is in the surf zone.[1] Diving is restricted to conditions when the swell is low.
19 March 1756: French slave shipLa Cybelle of twelve guns wrecked a little north of Bloubergstrand on a voyage from Guinea to Mauritius with a cargo of slaves.[38] (orLa Cybele[2]: 145 )
3 June 1756: Cape vesselSchuilenberg of 300 tons built at Amsterdam in 1747, wrecked near Camps Bay.[2]: 164
18 June 1757: Dutch provision shipVoorzichtigheid of 850 tons, built at Delft, in 1743, wrecked in Table Bay at the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 in a northwest gale, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
1 June 1773: Dutch shipJonge Thomas of 1150 tons, built at Amsterdam in 1764, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land. The wreck was the scene of a rescue of 14 people by the local burgher Wolraad Woltemade, who died in the attempt.[2]: 152
31 January 1776: Dutch East IndiamanNieuwe Rhoon of 1150 tons, built at Zeeland in 1764, was badly damaged when it struck Whale Rock during a south-easterly gale. It was towed to the Castle Jetty and beached to salvage the cargo, and the wreck abandoned. During the construction of the Cape Town Civic Centre building in 1970, wreckage of a wooden ship was found in the foundation excavation at about33°55.16′S18°25.85′E / 33.91933°S 18.43083°E /-33.91933; 18.43083 and identified as probably theNieuwe Rhoon.[42][2]: 154
15 October 1776: French shipLa Ceres, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale, near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
25 August 1778: ShipColebrooke wrecked in False Bay.TheColebrook was a three-decked British ship of 739 tons and 26 guns built in 1770 atBlackwall, London for the East India trade. It has a length of 41.76 m and beam of 10.82 m. The ship was named afterGeorge Henry Colebrooke, a director of theEast India Company at the time. It was lost on its third voyage to the East.[1][2]: 166
It was intentionally grounded on 25 August 1778 offKogel Bay beach after sustaining severe damage from an impact with what is now calledAnvil Rock at the mouth of False Bay while leading the East India fleet to the winter anchorage at Simon's Town, The ship's master decided that the vessel would not survive beating north to Simon's Town and to reach across the bay and hope to find a sandy beach to run aground. Anvil Rock was not shown on the charts used by the 1778 East India fleet.[1]
The wreck was rediscovered in 1984 and identified by items of cargo such as copper plates, lead ingots, barrels of gunpowder and broken wine bottles.[1] The remains of the wreck lie on the east side of False Bay at34°13.871′S18°50.588′E / 34.231183°S 18.843133°E /-34.231183; 18.843133, in about 5 m of water, usually covered by sand.[1]
24 September 1782: French corvetteLe Victor of 16 guns, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth during a northwest gale at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, and now lies under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
27 January 1784: French 64 gun shipSévere wrecked at Bloubergstrand in Table Bay on a voyage from Mauritius to France with a regiment of soldiers. Everyone survived.[43]
30 June 1784: Dutch fluytHoop of 800 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Mouille Point.[2]: 158
11 March 1786: Dutch ship HMNSHolland of 68 guns, wrecked at night nearOlifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 164 [22]: 12
19 August 1786: French brigLa Rozette wrecked at Platboom south ifOlifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula after a mutiny.[2]: 165
7 October 1786: DutchhoekerKatwijk aan den Rijn (of 750 tons, built in Amsterdam in 1774, driven ashore in a gale in Simon's Bay without loss of life.[2]: 167 (or Dutch East India schoonerCatwyk aan Rhyn[44])
17 May 1788: Dutch East IndiamanAvenhorn of 880 tons, wrecked during a northwest gale in Table Bay.[2]: 148
16 October 1788:[44] French frigatePénélope, (40-gun one-off design by Jacques-Noel Sané, with 28 × 18-pounder and 12 × 8-pounder guns) launched 30 October 1788 at Brest – wrecked at Muizenberg beach.[2]: 167
16 May 1789: Dutch shipDrietal Handelaars[44] of 502 tons, wrecked on the rocks at Swartklip in False Bay after dragging anchors in a southeast gale.[2]: 167 [45]
12 April 1790: Danish East-IndiamanErfprins van Augustenburg, wrecked in Table Bay.[2]: 150
12 April 1790: Fifth rate two-decherRoebuck-class shipHMS Guardian of 44 guns, laid down in 1780, was driven ashore in Table Bay by a gale and wrecked.[46][47]
On 24 December 1789, Guardian was severely damaged by an iceberg, and the ship was sailed 400leagues (1,900 km) to the Cape of Good Hope.[48]
12 April 1790: Italian barqueMaria, wrecked in Table Bay.[2]: 153
2 June 1792: DutchfluytDrie Gebroeders of 828 tons, beached in Simon's Bay after springing a leak.[2]: 167
22 May 1793: Dutch hoekerSterreschans of 850 tons, bought by the Amsterdam yard in 1789, wrecked in Table Bay near the Castle at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833 in a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
22 May 1793: Dutch East IndiamanZeeland of 1150 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 158
1794: ShipSão José Paquete ď Africa wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.TheSão José Paquete ď Africa (orSão José-Paquete de Africa) was a Portugueseslave ship that sank in 1794 off the coast ofCape Town, South Africa. It struck a reef quite close to shore, and sank in 8 m of water. 212 of the 400 to 500 African slaves who were aboard died when the ship sank.[49] In 2015, theSmithsonian'sAfrican American History Museum, South Africa'sIziko Museums, theSlave Wrecks Project, and other partners, confirmed discovery of the wreck near where it sank.[50][51] The ship and its slaves were headed fromPortuguese Mozambique toColonial Brazil, during the height of theinternational African slave trade.[52] Few other former slave ships have been found, but theSão José is the first and only shipwreck discovered, as of June 3, 2015, of a working slave ship, which sank in transit with its human cargo aboard.[52][53]
The vessel ran aground and sank about 150 m offSecond Beach, Clifton. The wreckage is fragmented and scattered on low reef with dense kelp at33°56.227′S18°22.543′E / 33.937117°S 18.375717°E /-33.937117; 18.375717. Wreckage comprises small fragments of timber, some cannons and shot, iron shackles and a few other small items of debris. The site is unsuitable for multibeam sonar mapping due to the kelp cover.[1] (Turner 1988 has: 27 December 1794, Portuguese slaving shipSão Josene wrecked at Camps Bay.[2]: 164 )
8 March 1796: Swedish East IndiamanGothenburg wrecked at Green Point.[2]: 160
4 June 1796: American vesselColumbia, wrecked in Table Bay.[2]: 149
9 May 1798: American shipJefferson, Wrecked in Table Bay[2]: 152
5 November 1799: Ship HMSSceptre, a 64-gunthird-rateship of the line of theRoyal Navy, launched on 8 June 1781 atRotherhithe,[54] wrecked in a storm when the anchor cable parted, and the ship was blown onto a reef at Woodstock Beach in Table Bay.[55][56] at33°55′12″S18°27′0″E / 33.92000°S 18.45000°E /-33.92000; 18.45000 (HMS Sceptre (1781)), currently the location of theRoyal Cape Yacht Club.
5 November 1799: American shipAnubis wrecked in table bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 148
5 November 1799: American brigHannah wrecked in Table Bay near the Castle during a northwest galeat,33°S18°E / 33°S 18°E /-33; 18, and is now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
5 November 1799: Dutch shipOldenburg of 64 guns, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale.[2]: 154
5 November 1799: British whalerSierra Leone, ran aground in Table Bay, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
20 September 1800: British sloopBenjamin lost with all hands at Gordon's Bay.[57][58][2]: 166
25 September 1805: ShipBrunswick of 1200 tons, wrecked at Simon's Town.[2]Brunswick was launched in 1792 as anEast Indiaman for the BritishEast India Company (EIC). Length 39.62 m, beam 12.8 m, 1244 tons with 30 guns. It made five complete voyages for the EIC before the French captured it in 1805. Shortly thereafter the ship was wrecked at theCape of Good Hope.[1]
The ship was driven aground in a storm on 25 September 1805 after losing three anchors off Long Beach, Simon's Town at34°10.872′S18°25.607′E / 34.181200°S 18.426783°E /-34.181200; 18.426783 The remaining wreckage,[b] about 33 m long and 18 m wide, is partly buried in sand at a depth of about 5 m, and is easily accessible from the beach.[1]
3 November 1805, French frigateL'Atalante, wrecked during a northwest gale in Table Bay at the Charlotte battery at about33°55.42′S18°27.00′E / 33.92367°S 18.45000°E /-33.92367; 18.45000, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
3 November 1805: American shipHunter of 188 tons and four guns, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale.[2]: 152
25 December 1805: French privateerLe Napoléon driven ashore atOlifantsbos on the Cape Peninsula after a chase by the frigate HMSNarcissus[2]: 165
8 January 1806: ShipBato burned and ran aground in Simon's Town.Bato was built as the 800 ton 74-gun ship of the lineStaaten Generaal in 1788 in Rotterdam. Later renamedBato, and used to transfer the new governorJan Willem Janssens and his retinue to the Cape when it was returned to the Netherlands after the treaty of Amiens. The ship set off to Batavia in 1803 and returned in 1804, and was later that year declared unseaworthy and moved to False Bay to serve as a floating battery at Simon's Town anchorage.[1][2]: 166
It was burned at anchor on 8 January 1806 to prevent it falling into enemy hands off Long Beach, Simon's Town, at34°11.001′S18°25.560′E / 34.183350°S 18.426000°E /-34.183350; 18.426000.[1] The remaining wreckage[b] lies on the sand at a depth of 3 to 4 m. It is very broken up and the debris field is about 45 m long and 9 m wide. It is easily accessible from the beach.[1]
10 January 1806: The French frigateAtalante was reported to have been destroyed by running aground at Simon's Town. On 3 November 1805 while moored near theCape of Good Hope, a gust of wind washed her ashore. Troude reports that by 7 November she had been refloated and repaired. Accounts of her subsequent fate differ. One account has it that she was found irreparable and was written off as atotal loss. However, Commodore SirHome Popham reported that the "French ShipAtalante, of 40 Guns, and Batavian ShipBato, of 68 Guns: Destroyed by the Enemy running them on Shore when the Cape was attacked, January 10, 1806."[59]
16 April 1809: French prize vesselPénélope, Wrecked in Table Bay near Milnerton.[2]: 155 (Wooden sailing schooner chased into Table Bay by HMS Olympia where it ran aground on Milnerton Beach?)[citation needed]
21 October 1810: British shipFeniscowles of 359 tons, built at Shields in 1818, wrecked at Green Point.[2]: 160
29 July 1816: Wooden-hulled sailing vesselDiscovery, wrecked on Woodstock beach in Table Bay near Fort Knokke.[60]
29 July 1816: VesselYoung Phoenix, wrecked in Table Bay.[60]
18 October 1816: BrigCamille wrecked at Muizenberg beach.[61]
5 November 1816: British wooden shipWoodbridge of 522 tons, wrecked in Table Bay.[2]: 158
6 June 1817: French shipL'Alouette, hit Albatross Rock in a heavy fog, and sank near34°16.20′S18°22.80′E / 34.27000°S 18.38000°E /-34.27000; 18.38000.[2]: 165
Late August 1817: Coasting brigWinifred & Maria, wrecked in Table Bay next to the wharf at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 158
March 1818: British snowMalta, of 166 tons, built in 1802, wrecked in Table Bay at Paarden Eiland.[2]: 153
17 April 1818: British shipTarleton of 298 tons, built at Liverpool in 1790, wrecked in Table Bay near the Castle at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833. Nuw under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
18 May 1818: BritishsnowJane, of 200 tons, built in Denmark in 1806, wrecked in Table Bay near the Castle at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 152
18 May 1818: Portuguese slaving brigPacquet Real, wrecked in Table Bay near the wharf at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 154
July 1818: British shipAnne of 310 tons wrecked at Paarden Eiland.[2]: 148
10 November 1818: Dutch shipVrouw Ida Alida wrecked at Muizenberg near St. Jams.[62][2]: 168
2 May 1819: Portuguese brigNossa Senhora D'Guia, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 154
26 July 1819: Dutch brigPrins Willem I, wrecked in Table Bay after being struck by lightning.[2]: 155
7 October 1819: British vesselElizabeth of 500 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near Paaden Eiland.[2]: 150
4 January 1821:Dorah wrecked in Table Bay at Paarden Eiland in a northwest gale.[2]: 150
4 January 1821: British shipEmma of 467 tons, built in India in 1813, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 150
5 February 1821: French shipL'Éclair, wrecked on the north-east side of Table Bay at night.[38]
10 March 1821: British shipCerberus of 372 tons, built in Sunderland 1n 1816, wrecked in Table Bay at Blouberg at night.[38]
25 October 1821: British wooden brigWaterloo wrecked in Fish Hoek.TheWaterloo was a sailing merchant vessel of 215 tons, launched in Sunderland in 1815. It was driven ashore and wrecked atFish Hoek in False Bay on 25 October 1821, with no loss of life.[63][64] The remains of the wreck lie in about seven meters of water.[2]: 168
16/17 November 1821: The Dutch wooden sailing schoonerFlora was wrecked in the shallows at the southern tip of Robben Island in the early morning.[36][65] (ship (proper) according to Werz 1994.[31])
4 December 1821: SchoonerJohn wrecked in Table Bay at Blouberg when she missed stays.[38]
14 June 1822: British wooden shipFame of 629 tons, built at Calcutta in 1817, wrecked slightly south of Graaf's Pool, during a northwest gale, at about33°54.50′S18°23.20′E / 33.90833°S 18.38667°E /-33.90833; 18.38667.[2]: 162
9 July 1822: British shipSarah of 600 tons, built at Bristol in 1810, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
20 July 1822: British snowAdriatic of 193 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 148
21 July 1822: Coastal schoonerGood Intent, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale.[2]: 151
21 July 1822: British snowLavinia of 233 tons, built in Sunderland in 1815, wrecked in Table Bat near the Castle in a northwest gale at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833, and is now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
21 July 1822: British brigLeander of 202 tons, built inWhitehaven in 1813, wrecked in Table Bay near the Castle during a northwest gale at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
4 April 1823: Wooden sailing schooner HM SchoonerCockburn wrecked on Muizenberg beach. Alternative dates from 3 to 6 April have been cited.[66][67][68][2]: 166
16 April 1823: Wooden sailing shipApollo, wrecked below the Mouille Point Battery in Table Bay.[69]
4 August 1824: BrigSan Antonio of 141 tons, Wrecked near the hospital in Table Bay during a gale near33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
7 February 1826: British brigGondolier of 226 tons was wrecked on Robben Island.[36](1836?[2])
12 March 1826: The British shipPerseverance of 353 tons, built in 1825, was wrecked on Whale Rock near Robben Island.[36][31][2]
31 March 1826: British brigNautilus of 163 tons, built in 1812, wrecked in Table Bay.[2]: 154
14 June 1828: Wooden sailing barqueWalsingham of 185 tons, built in 1795, wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay.[69][70] near the hospital, at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
29 June 1828: Dutch shipPadang of 430 tons, built in 1821, wrecked in Simon's Bay,[71][72] or Muizenberg beach on a voyage from Padang, Sumatra, to Antwerp with coffee and spices.[2]: 167 [73]
19 July 1829: ShipPhoenix wrecked at Simon's Town.Phoenix was a wooden merchant sailing vessel of approximately 500 tons launched in 1810 atTopsham, Devon, and was originally chartered by the East India Company.Phoenix was wrecked at Simon's Bay on 19 July 1829.[74] after a voyage from Ceylon carrying passengers, none of whom were lost, and a cargo of sundries, part of which was saved. She wrecked on the seaward side of what is now known as Phoenix Shoal at34°11.388′S18°26.898′E / 34.189800°S 18.448300°E /-34.189800; 18.448300.
4 July 1830: Wooden barqueAlfred of 267 tons, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale.[2]: 148
1 December 1830: British snowSingapore of 271 tons, built in 1826, wrecked near the Mouille Point lighthouse.[2]: 160
18 May 1831: British shipThorne of 221 tons, built in 1819, wrecked on Robben Island in thick fog.[2]: 162
16 July 1831: British brigCalpe of 165 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 148
16 July 1831: BrigSir James Saumarez of 100 tons, wrecked during a northwest gale in Table Bay near the military hospital, at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, now under reclaimed land,[2]: 156
17 July 1831: British barqueCandian of 226 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 148
16 August 1833: SchoonerFlamingo, caught fire and wrecked inBuffels Bay, Cape Peninsula on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 167
15 February 1834: French whalerL'Aigle ran aground nearSlangkop beach on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 165
18 October 1836: French brigLa Camille wrecked at Strandfontein.[2]: 167
18 August 1837: British schoonerAntelope of 107 tons, built at Cowes in 1800, wrecked in Table Bay near the jetty at33°55.50′S18°26.4′E / 33.92500°S 18.4400°E /-33.92500; 18.4400. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 148
24 November 1838: Irish shipDunlop of 332 tons, built in 1806 wrecked on Woodstock beach at night at33°55.10′S18°27.20′E / 33.91833°S 18.45333°E /-33.91833; 18.45333. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 150
20 September 1837: British shipRoyal William of 451 tons, built in 1830 at Whitby, wrecked near Mouille Point.[2]: 159
10 January 1839: French whaling brigLe Protee (Le Protie?) of 187 tons wrecked at Strandfontein.[75][2]: 167
19 January 1839: BarqueJuliana of 549 tons, wrecked near the Mouille Point battery[2]: 158
21 February 1839: British wooden shipTrafalgar of 364 tons, ran ground and wrecked at Rocklands Bay in Sea Point at about33°54.45′S18°23.60′E / 33.90750°S 18.39333°E /-33.90750; 18.39333.[2]: 164
27 July 1839: BarqueAdmiral Cockburn of 350 tons, wrecked at Muizenberg beach.[75][76] The vessel was built in the US in about 1809. The British captured the ship in 1814 and it was sold as a prize. In 1829 it became awhaler in thesouthern whale fishery ,and was wrecked atMuizenberg Beach,False Bay, in July 1839 while returning to London from its third whaling voyage. On 19 October 1839.The Times reported thatAdmiral Cockburn had gone onshore at Muizenberg Beach on 26 July 1839 while returning to London from a whaling voyage in the South Seas. The crew, except for one man, was saved, as were 1100 barrels of oil.[c]
1 April 1840: ShipParagon of 376 tons, wrecked slightly to the west of Green Point during a northwest gale.[2]: 163
16 July 1840: British barqueHoward of 197 tons, built at Dumbarton in 1833, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale near the Castle at about33°55.45′S18°25.79′E / 33.92417°S 18.42983°E /-33.92417; 18.42983, and now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
19 August 1840: British brigPalmer of 283 tons, built in Sunderland in 1836, wrecked near Mouille Point at night.[2]: 159
17 September 1840: British barqueBengal, wrecked in Tabe Bay near Blouberg Beach after entering the bay at night.[38]
19 September 1840: Wooden barqueCatharine Jamieson of 272 tons, built at Bremerhaven in 1838, wrecked at Mouille Point at night.[2]: 159
26 November 1840: British snow of 287 tons, built in Sunderland in 1839, wrecked at Green Point near the lighthouse[2]: 160
18 July 1841: Wooden schoonerFelix Vincidor of 140 tons, driven ashore at night and wrecked at Muizenberg beach.[79][80][2]: 167
4 September 1841: British barquePrince Rupert of 322 tons, built in London in 1827, wrecked at Mouille Point.[2]: 159
29 March 1842: Slaving brigSaint Antonio wrecked inChapmans Bay.[2]: 164
29 May 1842: British wooden barqueHelen, wrecked at Mouille Point while attempting to enter Table Bay.[81]
13 July 1842: British schoonerSpeedy of 115 tons, built yn Nova Scotia in 1834, wrecked in Table Bay near the Imhoff battery when anchor cables parted during a northwest gale, at about33°55.45′S18°25.70′E / 33.92417°S 18.42833°E /-33.92417; 18.42833. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
28 August 1842: British wooden 3 masted troop shipAbercrombie Robinson of 1415 tons built in Blackwall in 1825, parted anchor cables in a northwesterly storm and was blown ashore on Salt River beach in Table Bay with no loss of life.[82]
28 August 1842: British convict transportWaterloo, a wooden ship of 414 tons built atBristol in 1815, parted anchor cables and ran aground on Salt River beach in Table Bay during a northwest galeat about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157 [83]
9 September 1842: American barqueFairfield of 198 tons, wrecked in Table Bay when her cables parted during a northwest gale, at33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, and now lies under reclaimed land.[2]: 150
9 September 1842: British shipJohn Bagshaw of 416 tons, built in Liverpool in 1835, wrecked in Table Bay near the south wharf when anchor cables parted in a northwest storm. Now buried under reclaimed land at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000.[2]: 152
9 September 1842: British brigReform of 131 tons, built atMaryport in 1830, wrecked in Table Bay at the Imhoff battery when her cables parted in a northwest gale at about33°50.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.84167°S 18.44000°E /-33.84167; 18.44000. Now buried under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
3 November 1842: German shipMary Stewart of 500 tons, wrecked in Table Bay between the lighthouses at about33°53.90′S18°24.50′E / 33.89833°S 18.40833°E /-33.89833; 18.40833.[2]: 159
7 January 1846: Portuguese slaving barqueDiana of 270 tons, wrecked at Imhoff battery after cables parted in a northwest gale at33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 149
7 January 1846: British barqueFrancis Spaight of 368 tons, built at Sunderland in 1835, and wrecked on Woodstock Beach in Table Bay near33°54.90′S18°27.70′E / 33.91500°S 18.46167°E /-33.91500; 18.46167 when a cable parted. Now under reclaimed ground.[2]: 150
12 February 1847: British shipRobert of 595 tons, built at New Brunswick in 1843, sprung a leak and was beached without loss of life near Gordon's Bay. (Cape of Good Hope Almanac, 1852, p105)[2]: 168
30 March 1847: SchoonerMontagu of 20 tons, built on the Kowie River, wrecked nearSlangkop on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 163
9 April 1847: American whalerIsrael of 357 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583 when cables parted during a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 152
21 November 1847: SchoonerSaldanha Bay Packet, sank near theImhoff Battery during a northwest gale at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
18 January 1848: British wooden snow or brigBittern of 348 tons, built atNorth Shields in 1842, wrecked at the northwest of Robben Island in a southeast gale.[31][2]
6 June 1848: BrigChieftain of 147 tons, built inDumbarton in 1841, wrecked near the Mouille Point lighthouse.[2]: 158
8 August 1849: French shipLe Cygne of 318 tons, wrecked in Table Bay atPaarden Eiland.[2]: 153
24 August 1849: British wooden schoonerEnchantress of 142 tons built at Ipswich in 1834, wrecked in Table Bay between Mouille Point and Green Point.[2]: 159
13 January 1850: Brazilian slaving barqueRowvonia of 300 tons, wrecked in Simon's Bay, after cables parted in a southeast gale.[84][2]: 168
1 June 1850: BarqueArab of 378 tons, driven ashore in a northwest gale after her cables parted.33°55.5′S18°26.40′E / 33.9250°S 18.44000°E /-33.9250; 18.44000[2]: 148
18 June 1850: Sailing vesselLondon wrecked in Table Bay in a north-westely gale after its cables parted.[80]
25 June 1850: British wooden barqueRoyal Albert of 407 tons, built at Sunderland in 1840, wrecked when the anchor cable parted during a northwest gale in Table Bay near the hospital at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
24 July 1851: British wooden shipNimrod of 469 tons, built at Ipswitch in 1812, wrecked in Table Bay at night when anchor cables parted in a northwest gale.[2]: 154
29 July 1851: BrigFanny of 215 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, and now lies under reclaimed land.[2]: 150
1 October 1851: British wooden barqueRoyal Saxon of 322 tons, built atLeith in 1847, wrecked atPaarden Eiland while entering Table Bay at night[2]: 155
8 October 1851: British wooden barqueChartley Castle of 382 tons, built atTeignmouth in 1842, wrecked in Table Bay at Milnerton at night.[38]
24 January 1852: British woodensnowHerschel of 221 tons, built atDysart, Fife in 1839, wrecked in Table Bay near Rietvlei.[38]
18 May 1852: SchoonerCourier of 136 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Imhoff battery when cables parted in a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land at33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000.[2]: 149
10 November 1852: Swedish barqueSwea of 344 tons, wrecked near the Mouille Point lighthouse at night.[2]: 159
23 December 1852: American barqueKingston of 214 tons, wrecked at the south of Robben Island.[31][2]
7 March 1853: British wooden brigantineSophia of 165 tons, built in Nova Scotia in 1848, wrecked near Witsands south ofHout Bay on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 165
10 April 1853: British barqueDido of 248 tons, built atToulon in 1847, wrecked in Table Bay at Mouille Point.[2]: 158
30 July 1856: British full-rigged wooden shipKent of 815 tons, built atSunderland in 1846, wrecked in Table Bay atPaarden Eiland.[2]: 153
10 August 1853: British wooden brigSandwich of 150 tons, built atFalmouth, Cornwall in 1810, wrecked in Table Bay near Rietvlei.[38]
16 November 1856: American barqueSea Eagleof 625 tons, wrecked on the east side of Robben Island in Murray Bay in a southeast gale.[31][d]
3 December 1856: Dutch BarqueZalt Brommel of 642 tons, wrecked in Table Bay between Mouille Point and the Chavonnes battery33°54.85′S18°25.60′E / 33.91417°S 18.42667°E /-33.91417; 18.42667. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 158
22 December 1856: Dutch barqueTimorof 441 tons, wrecked at the south of Robben Island after missing stays.[31][2]
5 March 1857: British vesselDefence of 608 tons, built in 1844, wrecked after entering Table Bay at nigh between Rietvlei and the Salt River mouth.[38]
5 June 1857: BrigantneNewport of 116 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, and is now under reclaimed land.[2]: 154
7 June 1857: SchoonerGitana of 90 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Imhoff battery at33°55.59′S18°26.40′E / 33.92650°S 18.44000°E /-33.92650; 18.44000 after cables parted in a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
7 June 1857: BrigantineIsabella of 104 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the Imhoff battery when cables parted in a northwest gale, at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 152
10 June 1857: British wooden barqueChristabel of 335 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at33°55.45′S18°26.00′E / 33.92417°S 18.43333°E /-33.92417; 18.43333 when the cable parted. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 149
10 June 1857: British wooden barqueWilliam James of 293 tons, built atSunderland in 1855, wrecked in Table Bay at the Imhoff battery at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
10 May 1858: American barqueArabia of 382 tons, wrecked at Green Point.[2]: 160
30 November 1858: German barqueArago of 630 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Rietvlei during a gale.[38]
4 November 1858: Sardinian shipMalabar of 650 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Rietvlei.[38]
5 March 1858: BarqueRastede of 462 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Rietvlei after entering the bay during a gale.[38]
20 March 1859: German brigantineOste of 120 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Whitesands near Blouberg, at night during a strong wind.[38]
3 June 1859: SchoonerAnne of 96 tons, wrecked nearOlifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula.[2]: 164
5 September 1859: British wooden brigUnity of 190 tons, built atWhitehaven in 1848, wrecked on Bellows Rock.[2]: 166
3 June 1860: British wooden brigSarah Charlotte of 207 tons, built atMistley in 1840, wrecked in Table Bay near the hospital in a northwest gale after anchor cables parted at about33°S18°E / 33°S 18°E /-33; 18. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
4 July 1860: British barqueSir Henry Pottinger of 586 tons, built in 1844, wrecked in Table Bay near the Salt River mouth after the anchor cable parted in a northwest gale, at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
3 August 1860: British barqueMariner of 487 tons, wrecked at Green Point.[2]: 160
16 June 1861: British wooden barqueBernicia of 548 tons, built in Sunderland in 1848, wrecked on the west of Robben Island.[31][d][2]
19 January 1862: Danish barqueFrigga, ran aground near Milnerton in Table Bay in a southeast gale.[2]: 151
7 February 1862: American clipper shipA.H. Stevens of 999 tons, stranded in Shell Bay on Robben Island.[31]
15 June 1862: British wooden barqueValleyfield of 400 tons, built in Quebec in 1851, wrecked at Green Point in fog.[2]: 161
15 July 1862: ShipJohanna Wagner wrecked in False Bay.The Prussian sailingbarqueJohanna Wagner, of 600 tons, was bound fromBatavia toAmsterdam with a cargo of tobacco, sugar, coffee, India rubber, gall-nuts, gum damar, and tin when she was wrecked at "Zandfontein" (Strandfontein} nearMuizenberg, on 15 July 1862 due to pilot error. There were no deaths. Blame for the wreck was placed on the pilot refusing to use the services of aharbor pilot.[85][86]
8 August 1862: British wooden barqueCrystal Palace of 480 tons, built at Teighnmouth in 1852, wrecked in Table Bay on Sceptre reef in a northwest gale at33°55.30′S18°26.50′E / 33.92167°S 18.44167°E /-33.92167; 18.44167.[2]: 149
8 August 1862: British wooden barqueKate of 904 tons, built at Quebec in 1848, and wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale, slightly east of the Salt River mouth at about33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583.[2]: 153
8 August 1862: BrigantineMarietta of 133 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a strong northwest gale after anchor cables parted, near to33°55.30′S18°27.50′E / 33.92167°S 18.45833°E /-33.92167; 18.45833, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
20 September 1862: American barqueLucy Johnson of 263 tons, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale when anchor cables parted at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 153
20 September 1862: British schoonerSusan of 80 tons, wrecked in Table Bay near the hospital when anchor cables parted and the vessel ran ashore at about33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 157
9 October 1862: American barqueParana Wrecked opposite the blockhouse in Simon's Bay after the anchor cables parted.[2]: 167
12 January 1863: British wooden shipAkbar of 809 tons, built in Sunderland in 1852, wrecked in Table Bay at Rietvlei.[38]
22 February 1863: South African brigRover, wrecked in Table Bay at Whitesands near Blouberg, while leaving the bay in thick fog.[38]
10 April 1863: Steam screw tugAlbatross of 74 tons struck Albatross Rock near Olifantsbospunt on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula and sank nearby. The position is not known.[2]: 164
6 August 1863: German brigEliza of 264 tons, wrecked in Table Bay at Mouille Point in a northwest wind.[2]: 158
15 March 1864: British wooden barqueSappho of 374 tons, built atGreenock in 1840, wrecked in Table Bay at Blouberg Beach at night during a gale.[38]
26 May 1864: British wooden barqueGrahamstown of 327 tons, built in Sunderland in 1862, burned out and went aground in Table Bay near33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000, Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 151
15 September 1864: British shipForfarshire wrecked at Whale Rock near Robben Island.[31]
10 May 1865: British wooden shipRubens of 403 tons, built atAberdeen in 1853, wrecked after entering Table Bay at night near Rietvlei during a gale .[38]
17 May 1865: British wooden barqueAlacrity of 317 tons, built at Sunderland in 1856, wrecked in Table Bay at33°55.5′S18°26.75′E / 33.9250°S 18.44583°E /-33.9250; 18.44583 in a northwest gale. Now under reclaimed land[2]: 148
17 May 1865: ShipAthens wrecked in Table Bay.RMSAthens was an iron single-screw steam barque of 737 tons built in Liverpool in 1856, with a top speed of 11knots. Length 68.2 m, beam 9.14 m.It was wrecked during the "Great Gale of 1865" on the rocks north of Green Point lighthouse in Table Bay, at33°53.864′S18°24.531′E / 33.897733°S 18.408850°E /-33.897733; 18.408850. The wreckage is broken up and scattered on the shoreline reef in water mostly shallower than 7 m. The most substantial item of wreckage is the engine cylinder, which extends above the water at low tide, which makes it very easy to find.[1]
17 May 1865: British wooden barqueCity of Peterborough of 331 tons, wrecked on Sceptre Reef in Table Bay near33°55.30′S18°26.5′E / 33.92167°S 18.4417°E /-33.92167; 18.4417 during a northwest gale.[2]: 149
17 May 1865: British wooden barqueDeane of 200 tons, built in 1851 in London, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale.[2]: 149
17 May 1865: Danish schoonerFernande of 86 tons, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale near33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000.[2]: 150 Now buried under reclaimed land.
17 May 1865: German schoonerKehrweider of 180 tons, wrecked in Taple Bay during a northwest gale.[2]: 153
17 May 1865: British wooden barqueRoyal Arthur of 301 tons, built atKing's Lynn in 1855, wrecked in Table Bay during a northwest gale near33°55.50′S18°26.40′E / 33.92500°S 18.44000°E /-33.92500; 18.44000. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
19 July 1865: American shipPiscataqua of 890 tons, wrecked between Mouille Point and Green Point at about33°53.85′S18°24.53′E / 33.89750°S 18.40883°E /-33.89750; 18.40883.[2]: 160
2 January 1869: Coastal schoonerHopefield Packet, wrecked at Camps Bay.[2]: 163
19 November 1870: American barqueBenefactress of 540 tons wrecked at Lourens River mouth, The Strand, in False Bay, after striking a rock off Agulhas.[87][2]: 166
9 August 1874: British wooden barqueShepherd of 424 tons, built at Sunderland in 1862, wrecked on the new breakwater in Table Bay at about33°54.80′S18°25.60′E / 33.91333°S 18.42667°E /-33.91333; 18.42667, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 156
4 September 1875: British shipMulgrave Castle of 405 tons, built in 1813, wrecked in Table Bay at Green Point.[2]: 160
19 June 1876: Cape wooden schoonerKnysna Belle of 66 tons, built in 1863, wrecked in Table Bay at Rietvlei.[38]
13 February 1878: British iron steam coaster RMSKafir of 982 tons, built in 1873, struckAlbatross Rock on the Cape Peninsula at about34°17.80′S18°24.00′E / 34.29667°S 18.40000°E /-34.29667; 18.40000 and sank.[2]: 164
18 June 1878: Wooden barqueCaledonian wrecked on Woodstock beach in Table Bay in a north-westerly gale when its cables parted.[80]
19 July 1878: French schoonerJeanne of 181 tonnes, wrecked in Table Bay at theSalt River mouth at about33°50.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.84833°S 18.46583°E /-33.84833; 18.46583, during a northwest gale, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 152
20 July 1878: British wooden barqueRedbreast of 312 tons, built at Grimsby in 1863, wrecked in Table Bay in a northwest gale atFort Knokke, at about in33°55.50′S18°26.75′E / 33.92500°S 18.44583°E /-33.92500; 18.44583. Now under reclaimed land.[2]: 155
22 July 1878: American barqueEtta Loring of 716 tons, wrecked when her lines parted during a northwest gale at33°55.00′S18°21.20′E / 33.91667°S 18.35333°E /-33.91667; 18.35333, now under reclaimed land.[2]: 150
18 January 1880: French barqueParalos of 362 tons, Sank 2 hours after strikingBellows Rock.[2]: 165
30 August 1880: ShipStar of Africa wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.TheStar of Africa was an iron sailing barque built in Scotland in 1876, trading between Cape Town and Calcutta. Length 47.09 m, beam 8.32 m.[1]It sank on 30 August 1880, 2 km west of Olifantsbospunt on the southern Cape Peninsula after hitting the uncharted reef atAlbatross Rock. The vessel sank while trying to reach the shore at34°16.295′S18°21.550′E / 34.271583°S 18.359167°E /-34.271583; 18.359167. The wreckage[b] is very broken up and lies on sand and low sandstone reef at a depth of about 27 m.[1]
31 December 1880: British wooden barque of 321 tons, built in 1856, wrecked on Robben Island after the anchor cable parted during a southeast gale.[2]: 162
8 December 1883: Italian barqueReno of 648 tons, built by Fava, atVoltri in 1875, wrecked at Mouille Point.[2]: 159
30 October 1885: Austrian wooden barqueOlga R. of 674 tons, built inBuccari in 1874, wrecked at Mouille Point at33°53.85′S18°24.65′E / 33.89750°S 18.41083°E /-33.89750; 18.41083.[2]: 160
2 December 1885: Italian barqueIl Nazareno of 938 tons, wrecked on the west side of Robben Island.[31][2]: 161
3 June 1886: Italian barqueCaterina Doge of 586 tons, built atVoltri in 1875, wrecked atMatroosdam, Cape Point.[2]: 164
7 August 1886: Italian wooden barqueCarlotta B of 759 tons, built atSestri Ponente in 1874, wrecked atOlifantsbospunt[2]: 164
7 February 1890: Russian wooden barqueOnni of 826 tons, built in 1871, wrecked in Table Bay at Blouberg in fine weather at night.[38]
29 May 1893: British three-masted wooden brigLucania, beached in False Bay after a fire broke out.[81]
9 October 1896: Norwegian wooden shipAtlas of 1,296 tons, built in 1875 in Bath, Maine, wrecked in Tabe Bay on Blouberg Beach[38]
9 August 1897: SchoonerNukteris wrecked atBuffels Bay in False Bay just north of Cape Point.[88]
12 September 1899: Steel screw barquentine SSThermopylae of 3711 tons, built at Aberdeen in 1891, wrecked in Table Bay at night in front of the Green Point lighthouse at about33°53.95′S18°23.95′E / 33.89917°S 18.39917°E /-33.89917; 18.39917.[2]: 160
30 November 1899: Steam tugTiger wrecked in Table Bay Harbour.[89]
25 May 1900: ShipKakapo wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Kakapo was a 665-ton schooner-rigged steamship built in 1898 by theGrangemouth Dockyard Company, and registered in the United Kingdom. The ship ran aground on 25 May 1900 onNoordhoek beach on the Cape Peninsula, while on passage to Sydney, Australia in a northwesterly gale with heavy rain that impaired visibility. The watch mistookChapman's Peak for Cape Point and the ship ran aground on the sandy beach from which it was not possible to refloat it,[90] at34°07′26″S18°20′56″E / 34.12389°S 18.34889°E /-34.12389; 18.34889. The wreck is inshore of the current high water mark and largely buried in dune sand.
29 May 1900: British iron barqueAmerica of 1280 tons, caught fire at anchor and sank at33°54.95′S18°27.0′E / 33.91583°S 18.4500°E /-33.91583; 18.4500.[2]: 148
7 May 1901: British mail steamerTantallon Castle wrecked on the west side of Robben Island in dense fog near33°47.50′S18°21.65′E / 33.79167°S 18.36083°E /-33.79167; 18.36083.[31][d]
13 May 1901: ShipHermes wrecked in Table Bay.Hermes was a British-registered merchant steamer of 3400 tons built at Sunderland in 1899. Length 106.74 m, beam 14.33 m, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine with a maximum speed of 12.5 knots.The ship was driven aground on 13 May 1901 when the anchor dragged during a northwesterly storm offMilnerton Beach in Table Bay The wreck lies parallel to the shore at33°52.210′S18°29.255′E / 33.870167°S 18.487583°E /-33.870167; 18.487583 in shallow water and is very broken up and partly covered by sand. It is easily accessible from the beach or by boat but is in the surf zone in a moderate swell.[1]
30 May 1902: Norwegian iron barqueRyvingen, (exTenasserim), of 1504 tons, built at Belfast in 1866, wrecked in Table Bay on Woodstock Beach near the mole at about33°55.00′S18°27.20′E / 33.91667°S 18.45333°E /-33.91667; 18.45333, when anchor cables parted in a northwest gale.[2]: 155
9 June 1902: Italian barqueArmenia ran ashore during a storm after colliding with another vessel and anchoring off Blouberg at the start of a voyage.[38]
14 August 1902: British iron screw steamer SSCity of Lincoln of 3182 tons, wrecked at the Salt River mouth in Table Bay at33°54.90′S18°27.95′E / 33.91500°S 18.46583°E /-33.91500; 18.46583.[2]: 149
14 August 1902: ShipThe Highfields wrecked in Table Bay.The Highfields was a steel four masted barque of 2280 tons, launcheds in 1882 inStockton-on-Tees. Length 88.79 m, beam 12.8 m.The vessel sank after a collision with the anchor cable of a moored steamer, while approaching the harbour at night in heavy weather, and lies just outside the current harbour entrance to the Port of Cape Town, at33°53.152′S18°25.830′E / 33.885867°S 18.430500°E /-33.885867; 18.430500. The wreck[b] lies upside down on low reef at about 20 m depth. It is easily accessible by boat but very close to the shipping lane.[1]
2 June 1905: ShipClan Monroe wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.TheClan Monroe was a steel turret deck steamer of 4853 tons, built by Doxford inSunderland in 1897. Length 121.95 m, beam 15.3 m. The ship was powered by a triple-expansion engine with two coal-fired Scotch boilers, with a maximum speed of 12 knots.
The ship ran aground on 2 June 1905 on reef due to navigational error about 380 m north-northwest of the Slangkop lighthouse at Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula.[1] The wreck lies at34°08.817′S18°18.949′E / 34.146950°S 18.315817°E /-34.146950; 18.315817 on a rocky bottom at a depth of about 5 to 8 m. It is very broken up and the site is exposed to breaking surf in a large swell.[1]
18 April 1906: ShipOakburn wrecked on the Cape PeninsulaTheOakburn was an iron steam freighter of 3766 tons, built in Glasgow in 1904. Length 109.58 m, beam 14.96 m, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine with three Scotch boilers and a single screw propeller, giving a top speed of 9 knots.[1]
It ran aground in poor visibility in the early morning of 18 April 1906 on the north side ofDuiker Point on the Cape Peninsula due to navigational error ascribed to drift and possible chronometer error, at34°02.219′S18°18.478′E / 34.036983°S 18.307967°E /-34.036983; 18.307967 The wreck is quite broken up,[b] and partly obscured by the later wreck of theBOS 400. Although very close to the shore it is only accessible by boat.[1]
5 August 1909: ShipMaori wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Maori was a Britishrefrigerated cargosteamship built in 1893 byC.S. Swan & Hunter ofWallsend-on-Tyne forShaw, Savill & Albion Co. ofLondon with intention of transporting frozen meat and produce fromAustralia andNew Zealand to theUnited Kingdom. The vessel stayed on this trade route through most of its career. In August 1909 while on one of its regular trips, it was wrecked on the coast ofSouth Africa with the loss of thirty two of the crew.[1]
The ship was of the improved three-deck type, specially designed for colonial frozen meat trade and hadpoop deck, long bridge house and long topgallantforecastle. The machinery was amidships and the hold subdivided by six water-tightbulkheads and the holds and 'tween decks were insulated. The vessel was equipped with six refrigerating engines to cool down the insulated compartments which were designed to carry approximately 70,000 carcasses ofmutton. She was equipped for quick loading and unloading of cargo, including eight steamwinches.[91]
The ship was 402.6 feet (122.7 m) long (between perpendiculars) and 48.3 feet (14.7 m)abeam with a moulded depth of 29.6 feet (9.0 m).[92]Maori was originally assessed at 5,200 GRT and 4,038 NRT and haddeadweight of approximately 7,000.[93] The vessel had a steel hull with cellulardouble bottom throughout and a single 461nhptriple-expansion steam engine, with cylinders of 29-inch (74 cm), 46-inch (120 cm) and 77-inch (200 cm) diameter with a 48-inch (120 cm)stroke, that drove a single screw propeller, a maximum speed of 11.0 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/h).[92]
In the early morning of 5 August 1909Maoriran aground a few kilometres south of the suburb ofLlandudno on the west coast ofCape Peninsula in fog and heavy seas. The crew launched three lifeboats, but themaster and 14 of her crew were left on board.[94] Thirty-two people died, including her master and most of his navigating officers.[94]
The wreck[b] lies in water up to 24 metres (79 ft) deep between granite boulders at34°02.060′S18°18.790′E / 34.034333°S 18.313167°E /-34.034333; 18.313167.[1] Since the 1960s it has been popular with scuba divers, but it can be visited only when the weather is calm and the prevailing southwesterly swell is low. The hull has been vandalized and much of the general cargo that the ship carried has been removed by hunters of salvage and souvenirs over the years. In the 1970s diversdynamited the hull to search for non-ferrous metal.[94] The cargo included crockery, rolls of linoleum, champagne and red wine. In the right conditions it is a popularscubawreck diving site.[1]
15 September 1909: ShipUmhlali wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Umhlali was a steam-powered steel merchant vessel of 3388 tons built in 1904 in Sunderland. Length 106.1 m, beam 13.2 m. Powered by a single-screw triple-expansion engine giving a top speed of 13 knots. The ship ran aground on the reef at Albatross Rock on the night of 15 September 1909 due to navigational error on a course set dangerously close to the rock. The wreck lies about 700 m west-southwest of Olifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula at34°16.435′S18°22.487′E / 34.273917°S 18.374783°E /-34.273917; 18.374783 on a low-profile rocky reef about 8 m deep. It is very broken up and in an exposed location with dense kelp.[1]
18 April 1911: ShipLusitania wrecked off Cape Point.SSLusitania was a Portuguese twin-screwocean liner of 5,557 tons, built in 1906 by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, and owned by Empresa Nacional de Navegação, of Lisbon. Length 128.2 m, beam 15.61 m, with twin screws driven by two triple-expansion steam engines and four Scotch boilers, with a top speed of 14 knots.[1]
The ship was wrecked on Bellows Rock offCape Point, at 24h00 on 18 April 1911 in fog while en route fromLourenço Marques (nowMaputo),Mozambique, with 25 first-class, 57 second-class and 121 third-class passengers, and 475 African labourers. Out of the 774 people on board, eight died when a life boat capsized.[95] On 20 April the ship slipped off the rock into 37 metres (121 ft) of water to the east of the rock. The wreck has become a fairly well known recreational dive site, but at 33 to 40 metres, it is deeper than recommended for the average recreational diver, and the currents and breakers over the reef make it a moderately challenging dive.
The sinking ofLusitania spurred the local authorities to construct a new lighthouse on theCape Point.[96] The wreckage[b] lies on the east side of Bellows Rock, south of Cape Point, at34°23.378′S18°29.451′E / 34.389633°S 18.490850°E /-34.389633; 18.490850. although quite broken up, there is still quite a lot of wreckage, including the boilers and one of the engines, which leans against a tall boulder. The bow is to the north, with hawse-pipes and anchors.[1]
24 May 1914: Norwegian steam whalerNatal wrecked at the north of Robben Island[31][d]
21 November 1914 : ShipClan Stuart stranded in False Bay.Clan Stuart was a steel turret deck ship of 3594 tons, built by Doxford in Sunderland, and launched in 1900. It was powered by a single triple-expansion steam engine driving a screw propeller. Length 108.2 m, beam 13.9 m.[1]
On 21 November 1914 the ship dragged anchor and ran aground on the reef at Glencairn. It was pulled off the rocks but nor allowed into Simon's Town for drydocking due to risk of sinking, so it was run up the beach at Mackerel Bay, where it was moored and stabilised with two anchors and a cable to shore. After an underwater inspection of the damage, repairs were attempted, but were unsuccessful and the engine room flooded during an attempt to refloat the ship.[1]
The wreck[b] lies about 130 m off the beach in Simon's Bay, at34°10.303′S18°25.842′E / 34.171717°S 18.430700°E /-34.171717; 18.430700 on a mostly sandy bottom at a depth of about 7 m. The structure is broken up, and the main debris field is about 112 m by 36 m. The boilers, engine and shaft are still more or less in place with the cylinders awash and a blade missing from the cast-iron propeller. Access is easy from the beach or by boar.[1]
31 January 1916: Robben Island packetMagnet was wrecked atHout Bay Harbour while passing through the entrance in a gale and a large swell, and was carried onto the shore by the tide.[42]
31 March 1916: British twin screw steam linerRangatira of 7465 tons, built in Belfast in 1910, wrecked at the northwest of Robben Island in dense fog near33°50.25′S18°21.50′E / 33.83750°S 18.35833°E /-33.83750; 18.35833.[31][d][2]
26 May 1917: Spanish mail steamerC. de Eizaguirre wrecked at Robben Island.[31]
17 September 1917: ShipBia wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Bia was a steel Swedish freighter of 3226 tons, built in Newcastle in 1905. It was powered by a single triple-expansion steam engine. Length 103.63 m, beam 14.94 m.The ship was wrecked due to navigational error on 17 September 1917 when it struckAlbatross Rock. The wreck lies northwest ofOlifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula, at34°16.217′S18°22.638′E / 34.270283°S 18.377300°E /-34.270283; 18.377300, and is broken into two sections. The bow is further inshore, and the larger offshore section contains the boiler and engine. The structure is very broken up and is in the surf zone at times. Depth is around 5 m, and the reef is covered by heavy kelp. Diving is possible from a boat in a low swell.[1]
18 July 1923: Iron British steam trawler (or coaster)Golden Crown ran aground and wrecked in heavy fog at the northwest of Robben Island.[31][d][80]
29 October 1929: ShipHypatia wrecked at Robben Island.Hypatia was a British steam freighter built in Newcastle in 1902. Length 137.7 m, beam 15.91 m, 5663-ton, powered by a single triple-expansion engine with a top speed of 14 kt. It was wrecked on a voyage from Beira to New York when it struck Whale Rock in heavy swell and fog. The wreckage lies on flattish reef about 9 m deep, 200 m west of Whale Rock in Table Bay, at33°50.105′S18°22.750′E / 33.835083°S 18.379167°E /-33.835083; 18.379167. The wreck[b] is very broken up, but the boilers, engine and propeller shaft are easily recognised.[1]
28 July 1934: ShipWinton, built at Glasgow in 1928, wrecked in Table Bay off Milnerton beach at33°52.151′S18°29.183′E / 33.869183°S 18.486383°E /-33.869183; 18.486383 due to navigational error..Winton was a diesel-powered single-screw merchant vessel constructed in 1928 in Glasgow. Length 114.36 m, beam 16.31 m, depth 7.83 m, 4388 tons. It ran aground 290 m off Milnerton beach. The wreck is broken up and what remains is partly covered by sand. Depth on the sand is about 3 m.[1]
11 September 1936: British steam whalerSolhagen wrecked at Robben Island.[31][d]
27 November 1942: ShipThomas T. Tucker Wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.The SSThomas T. Tucker (Hull Number269) was aLiberty ship built by The Houston Shipbuilding Corporation for service as a troop and weapons carrier.[97] The ship was powered by two oil-fired boilers and a single triple-expansion steam engine with a top speed of 11.5 knots. Length 134.57 m, beam 17.37 m, 7176 gross registered tons. Launched on 31 August 1942.[1]
The ship ran aground on its maiden voyage in thick fog just after midnight on 27 November 1942 on the south side of Olifantsbospunt on the Cape Peninsula, at34°16.603′S18°23.228′E / 34.276717°S 18.387133°E /-34.276717; 18.387133.[1] The wreck is located on the rocks of the shoreline south of Olifantsbos Point within theCape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. It is broken into three major sections with a boiler higher up on the beach.[98] The shallow rocky shoreline reef is unsuitable for multibeam sonar mapping.
1 April 1947: Greek steamer SSGeorge M. Livanos of 5482 tons, built inWest Hartlepool in 1938, wrecked and burned off the Green Point lighthouse at about33°53.95′S18°23.90′E / 33.89917°S 18.39833°E /-33.89917; 18.39833[2]: 160
13 May 1947: ShipGeneral Botha scuttled in False Bay.SATSGeneral Botha was built as HMSThames, aMersey-classprotected cruiser for theRoyal Navy launched on 3 December 1885. The ship was placed inreserve on completion in 1888 and was converted into asubmarine depot ship in 1903. It was sold out of the navy in 1920 and was purchased by aSouth African businessman to serve as a training ship fornaval cadets under the name SATSGeneral Botha. The ship arrived inSouth Africa in 1921 and began training her first class of cadets inSimon's Town the following year. The unit continued to train cadets for the first years ofWorld War II, but the RN took over the ship in 1942 for use as anaccommodation ship under its original name.[1]
The ship had alength between perpendiculars of 300 feet (91.4 m), abeam of 46 feet (14.0 m) and adraught of 20 feet 2 inches (6.1 m).[99] It displaced 4,050 long tons (4,110 t) and was powered by a pair of two-cylinderhorizontal, direct-acting, compound-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, which were designed to produce a total of 6,000indicated horsepower (4,500 kW) and a maximum speed of 18knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) using steam provided by a dozen coal-fired Scotch boilers withforced draught.[100]
The ship wasscuttled by shore battery gunfire on 13 May 1947 in central False Bay at 55 m on a sandy bottom at34°13.673′S18°38.289′E / 34.227883°S 18.638150°E /-34.227883; 18.638150.[1] The wreck[b] lies approximately upright, but the structure has partly collapsed, particularly the stern. Visibility is unpredictable, but seldom good.[1]
22 July 1948: ShipKing Emperor foundered in Table Bay.King Emperor was a 246-ton steel steam trawler built inDundee in 1914. It was powered by a single-screw triple-expansion engine. Length 36.68 m, beam 6.86 m. The ship foundered on 22 July 1948 in Table Bay, 3.5 km northwest of Green Point lighthouse, after taking on water during heavy seas. It lies at33°53.267′S18°21.949′E / 33.887783°S 18.365817°E /-33.887783; 18.365817 in about 43 m of water on a rocky bottom. The wreck[b] lies upright on the bottom, and is relatively intact. The wheelhouse and foredeck are quite waster, but the winch, boiler, engine, shaft and propeller are still in place.[1]
1957: DredgerDelver scuttled in Table Bay.Delver was a self-propelled bucket dredger built in Scotland in1912 for the government of the Union of South Africa to maintain and improve the Victoria Basin of Cape Town's harbour facilities. Length, 39.01 m, beam 7.65 m, 217 tons, with a speed of 7 knots and capacity to dredge to a depth of 12 m. It was sunk 8 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse in a training exercise for the SAAF in 1957. The wreck[b] lies on a sandy bottom at 73 m at33°51.184′S18°18.034′E / 33.853067°S 18.300567°E /-33.853067; 18.300567, and is relatively intact.[1]
20 April 1960: ShipCape Matapan sunk after collision in Table Bay.The steam side trawlerCape Matapan of 321 tons was built in Selby, England, in 1925. It was propelled by a single screw powered by a triple-expansion engine with a Scotch boiler, giving a top speed of 11 knots. It sank about 1.8 km north-northeast of Green Point lighthouse at33°53.235′S18°24.534′E / 33.887250°S 18.408900°E /-33.887250; 18.408900 after another trawler, theBulby collided with it while it was anchored in fog. The wreck[b] lies on low flat reef and is broken up and scattered over a wide area. The boiler and trawl winch are the main features of the site.[1]
7 July 1961: ShipNerine scuttled in Table Bay.The steel side trawlerNerine was built in Aberdeen in 1925. Length 35.10 m, beam 6.73 m, 197 tons. Powered by a single triple-expansion steam engine with a coal-fired Scotch boiler. The vessel was stripped of useful parts and scuttled 6.5 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse at33°50.725′S18°18.866′E / 33.845417°S 18.314433°E /-33.845417; 18.314433 on 7 July 1961. The wreck[b] lies on a sandy bottom at 66 m. The hull is mostly intact, but the superstructure is gone.[1]
25 February 1964: ShipMooivlei scuttled in Table Bay.Mooivlei was a steel side trawler built in Yorkshire in 1935. Length 39.38 m, beam 7.28 m, 252 tons, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine. It was scuttled on 25 February 1964, 7.7 km northwest of Green Point lighthouse in Table Bay at33°52.386′S18°19.495′E / 33.873100°S 18.324917°E /-33.873100; 18.324917. The wreck[b] lies upright on sand at 62 m depth. The hull is substantially intact, but the wheelhouse has collapsed. There is considerable damage to the stern, and the propeller blades are broken. It has not been possible to positively distinguish between this wreck and that of the sister shipBlomvlei which is less than 2 km away.[1]
31 January 1965: The steam-powered I&J fishing trawlerBluff, ran aground and wrecked in heavy fog at Camps Bay just south of Bakoven, Bluff served as a minesweeper for the South African Navy during World War II.[42]
30 April 1965: 345-ton DutchcoasterNolloth struckAlbatross Rock and beached nearby inOlifantsbos Bay near34°16′S18°23′E / 34.267°S 18.383°E /-34.267; 18.383 (Nolloth). The cargo was mostly salvaged on site. Some of the wreckage washed ashore and is embedded in the beach sand.[101][102] Length 41 m, beam 7.3 m, draught 2.96 m. Powered by a single 4-cylinder marine diesel engine of 240Hp, with a top speed of 9.5 knots.[101]
8 October 1965: ShipFleur scuttled in False Bay.SASFleur was a 750-ton Bar classboom defence vessel built as HMSBarbrake at Renfrew, Scotland in 1942, Length 55.47 m, beam 9.76 m, powered by two triple-expansion steam engines driving two propellers. At the end of its useful life it was sunk in central False Bay, 11.8 km East-northeast from Simon's Town by naval gunfire and aircraft of the SAAF, at34°10.834′S18°33.895′E / 34.180567°S 18.564917°E /-34.180567; 18.564917. The wreck[b] rests upright on the sand bottom at about 41 m. The bow gantry has collapsed forward onto the sand, and the plating has wasted considerably over most of the topsides, deck and superstructure.[1]
11 February 1966: TrawlerBlomvlei scuttled in Table Bay.Blomvlei was a steel side trawler built in Yorkshire in 1935. Length 39.37 m, beam 7.24 m, 252 tons, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine. The ship was scuttled in Table Bay, 5.9 km northwest from Green Point lighthouse at33°52.484′S18°20.729′E / 33.874733°S 18.345483°E /-33.874733; 18.345483. The wreck[b] lies on a sand bottom at 53 m depth, listed slightly to port, and is substantially intact. It has not been possible to positively distinguish between this wreck and that of the sister shipMooivlei, which is less than 2 km away.[1]
1 July 1966: ShipS.A. Seafarer wrecked in Table Bay.TheS.A. Seafarer [af] was built as theClan Shaw at Greenock Dockyart in 1949.[1] It was a 8101 gross ton single-screw steam freighter powered by three turbines geared to a single shaft for a service speed of 16.5 kt. Length 149.02 m, beam 20.21 m, depth 12.4 m
The ship was wrecked on the rocky shoreline reefs about 400 m northwest of the Green Point lighthouse in Table Bay on 1 July 1966, at33°53.939′S18°23.822′E / 33.898983°S 18.397033°E /-33.898983; 18.397033. The ship was approaching Table Bay in a northwesterly wind of 30 knots and heavy seas, and ran aground just after midnight. The wreck[b] is broken up and spread along about 150 m of the shoreline reef in about 6 m of water. It is usually dived from a boat.[1]
5 June 1967: MinesweeperBloemfontein scuttled in False Bay. HMSASBloemfontein was anAlgerine-classminesweeper built for theRoyal Navy in Canada duringWorld War II. The ship was originally HMSRosamund (pennant number: J439) and spent some time clearingminefields in European waters after she was completed in 1945 before she was placed inreserve.Rosamund was purchased bySouth Africa in 1947 and renamed HMSASBloemfontein in 1948.
After the S.A. Navy decided that the ship was no longer needed it was stripped of useful equipment before being sunk as a target inFalse Bay by the frigatePresident Kruger and the minesweeperSAS Johannesburg on 5 June 1967.[103] The wreck[b] lies upright on a sand bottom in central False Bay at 55 m depth at34°14.669′S18°39.972′E / 34.244483°S 18.666200°E /-34.244483; 18.666200 It is fairly intact, and is occasionally dived, though the boat ride is quite long and visibility is unpredictable.[1]
27 September 1967: TrawlerDisa sunk in Table Bay.Disa was a 453-ton coal-fired single-screw steam side trawler built inBeverley, Yorkshire, in 1959, which sank after a collision with another trawler on 27 September 1967, about 8.4 km northwest of Green Point lighthouse at33°52.398′S18°18.981′E / 33.873300°S 18.316350°E /-33.873300; 18.316350. The wreck[b] lies on its starboard side on the sand at 67 m. The vessel is in good structural condition and makes a good technical dive site.[1]
December 1968: TrawlerBulby scuttled in False Bay.Bulby was built in 1945 inBeverley, Yorkshire, as a steel side trawler. It was powered by a single screw driven by a triple-expansion steam engine, giving a maximum speed of 11.9 knots. The vessel was 45.11 m long, with 7.68 m beam. It was scuttled 2.4 km south of Sunrise beach, Muizenberg in False Bay as an artificial reef in December 1968 at34°06.998′S18°31.363′E / 34.116633°S 18.522717°E /-34.116633; 18.522717. The wreck[b] lies on a sand bottom in 17 m of water. It is accessible by boat, but the visibility is usually poor and the wreck is not dived often.[1]
21 March 1969: TrawlerIolite scuttled in False Bay.The coal-fired steam side trawlerIolite was originally built asNavena in 1945 inBeverley, Yorkshire. The vessel was 45.11 m long, 7.68 m beam and 361 tons. It was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine with a superheated boiler providing a top speed of 11.8 knots.The vessel was scuttled as an artificial reef on 21 March 1969, about 2.5 km south of Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg, at34°07.166′S18°30.887′E / 34.119433°S 18.514783°E /-34.119433; 18.514783. The wreck[b] lies on a sand bottom at about 18 m depth.[1]
24 November 1969: TrawlerGilia scuttled in Table Bay.The side trawlerGilia was built in Aberdeen in 1946. Length 53.68 m, beam 8.6 m, 515 tons powered by a coal-fired triple-expansion steam engine with a single screw propeller. It was scuttled at the end of its useful life on 24 November 1969, 2.3 km southwest of Robben Islad lighthouse, at33°49.884′S18°21.527′E / 33.831400°S 18.358783°E /-33.831400; 18.358783, in 36 m of water, to form an artificial reef.[1] The wreck lies upright on a sandy patch between two rocky ridges, and is quite broken up. The boiler is exposed and basically intact, while the central part of the hull has mostly collapsed.[b]
18 August 1970: TrawlerGodetia scuttled in False Bay.Godetia was a steel side trawler built inAberdeen in 1946. Length 53.68 m, beam 8.60 m, 515 tons, powered by a single triple-expansion steam engine with a coal-fired Scotch boiler. It was sunk by aircraft of the SAAF as a training exercise on 18 August 1970 at34°06.050′S18°44.200′E / 34.100833°S 18.736667°E /-34.100833; 18.736667. The wreck[b] lies on broken low reef and sand at a depth of about 17 m of water. The wreck is very broken up and the boiler is the largest recognisable part remaining, with the engine, shaft and propeller extending to the east.[1]
1 March 1971: TrawlerBorella scuttled in False Bay.Borella was a steel side trawler built in Beverley, Yorkshire in 1946. Length 50.38 m, beam 8.44 m, 524 tons, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine with a top speed of 12.2 knots. The ship was stripped and scuttled as an artificial reef by the SA Navy in False Bay, 2.4 km south of Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg, at34°07.007′S18°31.220′E / 34.116783°S 18.520333°E /-34.116783; 18.520333 as part of an artificial reef. The wreck[b] lies on its port side partly buried in sand at 18 m depth.[1]
3 February 1972: TrawlerGroote Schuur scuttled in Table Bay.Groote Schuur was a steel side trawler built in Beverley, Yorkshire in 1955. Length 42.98 m, beam 8.33 m, 453 tons, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine with a coal-fired Scotch boiler. It was stripped and scuttled on 3 February 1972, 6.9 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse in 66 m of water, at33°51.035′S18°18.798′E / 33.850583°S 18.313300°E /-33.850583; 18.313300. The wreck[b] lies on a sand bottom and is almost competely intact. A sister ship,Groot Constantia, was scuttled nearby and it has not been possible to definitively identify this wreck.[1]
15 December 1972: ShipRockeater scuttled in False Bay.Built as USAVFS-168 in New Orleans in 1944, and sold in 1964 to become a marine prospecting vessel, and renamedRockeater. Length 53.95 m, beam 10.06 m,557 tons, powered by twin propellers and thrusters capable of dynamic positioning to within 8 m. In 1972Rockeater had reached the end of its useful life and was scuttled in Smitswinkel Bay on 15 December 1972 as an artificial reef at34°16.126′S18°28.869′E / 34.268767°S 18.481150°E /-34.268767; 18.481150. The wreck[b] lies upright on a sand bottom at about 33 m. The lattice drilling derrick has toppled over the starboard side, the forecastle has broken off the rest of the hull and pitched forward, and the rest of the hull has dropped downwards due to shell buckling of the lower side plating. The wreck has been a popular dive site for decades.[1]
4 July 1975:Fong Chung No.11 a 200-ton Taiwanese tuna fishing boat, ran aground on Whale Rock in dense fog.[36][31][d]
2 September 1975: ShipL.M. Gemsbok foundered in Table Bay.TheL.M. Gemsbok was a buoy tender ship built in the Netherlands in 1965. Length 39.22 m, beam 8.33 m, 314 tons, powered by a single diesel engine. It capsized, flooded and sank on 2 September 1975 while transferring a replacement anchor and chain to a tanker in Table Bay 6.1 km west-northwest of Greenpoint ligthouse at33°53.912′S18°20.324′E / 33.898533°S 18.338733°E /-33.898533; 18.338733. The wreck[b] is intact and lies on its starboard side on a sand bottom at a depth of 56 m[1]
27 January 1976: Canadian hydrographic shipGoel No.1, of 787 tons, wrecked in a southeast gale on the south of Robben Island.[36][31][d]
9 June 1977: TugT.S. McEwan scuttled in Table Bay.TheT.S. McEwan was a steam tug built in 1925 atPaisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Length 48.72 m, beam 10.55 m, 793 tons, powered by two six-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines driving two propellers and four water-tube boilers. The engines could produce 28000 hp, to give a bollard thrust of 30 tons or a top speed of 13 knots. At the time of building it was the most powerful tug in the world. After 50 years of service it was scuttled in Table Bay 11.6 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse, on a rocky bottom at about 82 m depth, at33°51.764′S18°16.166′E / 33.862733°S 18.269433°E /-33.862733; 18.269433. The wreck[b] is roughly upright, with a slight list to starboard, and is somewhat broken up. The superstructure and deck have mostly wasted away, but the boilers and engines are fairly intact.[1]
28 July 1977: Tanker SSRomelia (exZodiac, exVarbergshus) wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Romelia was a steam tanker of 21,097 tons built inKiel, Germany in 1959.. The sip was powered by two geared turbine sets driving twin propellers with a top speed of 16.5 knots. In 1977, the obsolescent vesselsRomelia andAntipolis were under tow from Greece to a breaker's yard in Taiwan by the tugKiyo Maru No.2, when the towing cable toAntipolis snagged on the bottom near Robben Island andRomelia surged ahead, dragging its cables under the tug. The cable toAntipolis parted, setting it adrift, but the tug was still snagged, and had to be cut free. By this time the towline toRomelia had also snagged on the seabed, and eventually parted, leaving both tankers adrift in the northwesterly gale.Romelia ran aground on 28 July 1977 about 30 m off Sunset Rocks, Llandudno, on the Cape Peninsula, at34°00.732′S18°19.810′E / 34.012200°S 18.330167°E /-34.012200; 18.330167. The next day the hull broke in front of the superstructure and the forward section eventually sank, leaving the stern high on the rocks for several years until it too succumbed to the seas. The wreck[b] is very broken up, and the torn and twisted wreckage is strewn over a large area to the northwest of Sunset Rocks. The wreck was more popular as recreational dive site when it was more intact.[1]
29 July 1977: Tanker SSAntipolis wrecked on the Cape Peninsula.Antipolis was a steam tanker of 24,716 tons, built in Japan in 1959, and powered by two steam turbines geared to a single shaft and screw, giving a top speed of 16.5 knots. In 1977, the obsolescent vesselsRomelia andAntipolis were under tow from Greece to a breaker's yard in Taiwan by the tugKiyo Maru No.2, when the towing cable toAntipolis snagged on the bottom near Robben Island andRomelia surged ahead, dragging its cables under the tug. The cable toAntipolis parted, setting it adrift, but the tug was still snagged, and had to be cut free. By this time the towline toRomelia had also snagged on the seabed, and eventually parted, leaving both tankers adrift in the northwesterly gale. TheAntipolis ran aground on 29 July 1977, on the rocky shore atOudekraal on the Cape Peninsula at33°58.990′S18°21.379′E / 33.983167°S 18.356317°E /-33.983167; 18.356317. Attempts to tow it off by the salvage tugWolraad Wolemade failed, and the wreck settled onto the rocks in relatively shallow water and was partly broken up on site by cutting down to the water level at low tide. The wreck has been a fairly popular recreational dive site with reasonable shore access from a boulder beach.[1]
22 February 1978: ShipTristania scuttled in Table Bay.Tristania was built as HMSBay, aTree-class trawler/minesweeper for the Royal Navy, inSelby, West Yorkshire, in 1940. In 1950 it was re-engined in the Netherlands, and in 1951 taken to Cape Town and refitted for fishing and with accommodation for 12 passengers. AsTristania, it served as the main transport between South Africa an the islands ofTristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. In 1975 a fire damaged the engine room and it was decided to scrap the vessel. After removing useful equipment, it was towed out and scuttled on 22 February 1978, 6.6 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse at33°51.020′S18°19.004′E / 33.850333°S 18.316733°E /-33.850333; 18.316733. The wreck[b] lies upright on a sand bottom at about 64 m depth, and is substantially intact.[1]
3 August 1978: FrigateTransvaal scuttled in False Bay.SASTransvaal was one of threeLoch-classfrigates in theSouth African Navy (SAN). She was built as HMSLoch Ard (K602) for theRoyal Navy duringWorld War II, but was transferred to the SAN in 1944 before completion and renamed as HMSASTransvaal. The ship was completed shortly after the German surrender in May 1945 and did not participate in the war.[104]
Transvaal displaced 1,435 long tons (1,458 t) atstandard load and 2,260 long tons (2,300 t) atdeep load. The ship had anoverall length of 307 feet (93.6 m), abeam of 38 feet 7 inches (11.8 m) and a mean deepdraught of 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 m).[105] She was powered by a pair ofvertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by twoAdmiralty three-drum boilers. The engines developed a total of 5,500indicated horsepower (4,100 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[104]
Transvaal was taken out of service on 14 August 1964 and laid up in Simon's Town. She was sold for scrap, together with her sisterGood Hope, in 1977. After stripping her of valuable metals and fittings, thehulk was donated to theFalse Bay Conservation Society for use as an artificial reef and scuttled on 3 August 1978 in Smitswinkel Bay at34°15.979′S18°28.770′E / 34.266317°S 18.479500°E /-34.266317; 18.479500.[1][103]
The wreck lies upright on the sand at a depth of about 34 metres (112 ft).[b] Thebow has broken off and much of the hull structure has collapsed.[106]
7 August 1978: ShipKatsu Maru No. 25 sank in Hout Bay.TheKatsu Maru No. 25 was a fishing vessel built inNamikata, Japan. Length 50.39 m, beam 8.23 m, 299 tons, powered by a diesel engine, with a speed of 11.5 knots. It sank on 7 August 1978, 1.5 km south of the harbour in Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula after a collision, at34°03.910′S18°20.940′E / 34.065167°S 18.349000°E /-34.065167; 18.349000. The wreck lies on its starboard side on a sand bottom at 27 m.[1][b]
4 November 1978: ShipBoston Typhoon scuttled in Table Bay.Boston Typhoon was a side trawler built in Beverley, Yorkshire in 1959. Length 42.61 m, beam 8.66 m, 425 tons, powered by a single diesel engine with a top speed of 12 knots. After an engine-room fire in April 1978, the vessel was written off and scuttled on 4 November 1978 as an artificial reef 9.1 km west-southwest of Robben Island lighthouse at33°50.004′S18°16.715′E / 33.833400°S 18.278583°E /-33.833400; 18.278583. The wreck[b] lies upright on a sandy bottom at about 81 m depth. The hull is relatively intact but the superstructure is gone.[1]
12 December 1978: ShipGood Hope scuttled in False Bay.SASGood Hope (pennant number: F432) was one of threeLoch-classfrigates in theSouth African Navy (SAN). It was built as HMSLoch Boisdale (K432) for theRoyal Navy duringWorld War II, but was transferred to the SAN before completion in 1944 and renamed as HMSASGood Hope. The ship was assigned toconvoy escort duties in 1945, but did not encounter any enemy ships before the end of the war.
Good Hope displaced 1,435 long tons (1,458 t) atstandard load and 2,260 long tons (2,300 t) atdeep load. The ship had anoverall length of 307 feet (93.6 m), abeam of 38 feet 7 inches (11.8 m) and a mean deepdraught of 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 m).[105] It was powered by a pair ofvertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by twoAdmiralty three-drum boilers. The engines developed a total of 5,500indicated horsepower (4,100 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[104]
The ship waspaid off in September 1965 and was sold together with her sisterTransvaal, in 1977. After stripping it of all valuable metals and fittings,Good Hope'shulk was donated to theFalse Bay Conservation Society for use as an artificial reef.[103] She was scuttled on 12 December 1978.[107] in Smitswinkel Bay at34°16.075′S18°28.848′E / 34.267917°S 18.480800°E /-34.267917; 18.480800.[1]
The wreck lies approximately upright on a sandy bottom at about 33 m depth.[b] The hull structure has partially collapsed and the upper deck is broken up and parts lie at varying depths and angles. The lattice mast has fallen over to straboard.[1]
19 June 1979: ShipArum sunk in Table Bay approaches.Arum was a steel side trawler built in Beverley, Yorkshire in 1960. Length 38.10 m, beam 8.18 m, 360 tons, powered by a diesel engine giving a top speed of 11.25 knots. It sank on 19 June 1979, 9.3 km southwest of Robben Island after a collision, at33°52.440′S18°18.178′E / 33.874000°S 18.302967°E /-33.874000; 18.302967. The wreck[b] lies upright on a sand bottom at about 75 m depth, and is mostly intact, though the wheelhouse and part of the superstructure have wasted away. It has not yet been unambiguously identified, but matches the dimensions and recorded position forArum.[1]
10 August 1979: ShipKer Yar Vor scuttled off the Cape Peninsula. TheKer Yar Vor was a 292-ton motor fishing vessel built inOstend, Belgium for the rock lobster fishery. Length 22 m, powered by a single diesel engine.It was scuttled in Leeugat Bay on the Cape Peninsula after taking major damage from an explosion in the engine room, at34°02.050′S18°18.630′E / 34.034167°S 18.310500°E /-34.034167; 18.310500. The wreck[b] is very broken up, and only the stern is recognisable. The site is shared by theJo May.[1]
27 June 1983: TrawlerPrincess Elizabeth scuttled on False Bay.ThePrincess Elizabeth was a steel side trawler built inBeverley, Yorkshire, in 1961. Length 42.61 m, beam 8.63 m, 419 tons, powered by a Diesel engine, with a top speed of 12 knots.It was scuttled in Smitswinkek Bay on 27 June 1983 to form part of an artificial reef at34°16.064′S18°28.827′E / 34.267733°S 18.480450°E /-34.267733; 18.480450. The wreck[b] lies on a sand at33 m, listing slightly to starboard, and is largely intact.[1]
August 1983: TrawlerOratava scuttled in False Bay.Oratava was a steel side trawler built in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1958. Length 50.37 m, beam 9.27 m, 603 tons, powered by a single diesel engine with a top speed of 12 knots.It was scuttled in August 1983 in Smitswinkel Bay to form part of an artificial reef at34°16.009′S18°28.785′E / 34.266817°S 18.479750°E /-34.266817; 18.479750. The wreck[b] lies on a sand bottom at 32 m, listing to port, and is mostly intact.[1]
1 February 1986: The whalerTheresa III, scuttled for target practice off the Cape Peninsula by the South African Navy.[108]
1986: South African yachtChanson de la Mer, ran aground on Robben Island.[36]
1986: Steel motor fishing boatHarvest Capella wrecked on the Oude Schip headland.[109] 355-ton long liner.
30 March 1986: ShipDaeyang Family ran aground in Table Bay.The Korean bulk carrierDaeyang Family, of 96,760 gross registered tons and deadweight 183570 tons, carrying 180,000 tons of iron ore, dragged anchors in a storm and went aground on the reef at Whale Rock south of Robben Island on 30 March 1986. The hull remained substantially intact until the great gale of 1994.[36] Bult as theore-bulk-oil carrierAdria Maru in 1972 in Japan. Powered by a single screw and diesel engine with a top speed of 15 knots. Length 312 m. beam 47.6 m.[110] The wreck[b] lies 500 m southeast ofWhale Rock in Table Bay at33°50.383′S18°23.066′E / 33.839717°S 18.384433°E /-33.839717; 18.384433. The ship has largely broken up and debris is strewn over an area of about 500 m by 400 m.[1]
21 December 1988: ShipGelderland scuttled off the Cape Peninsula.SASGelderland was built as the Ford-class seaward defence boat HMSBrayfort in Glasgow in 1954. It displaced 120 tons and had a length of 35.74 m and beam of 6.10 m. Ir was powered by two 12-cylinder Paxman diesels for a top speed of 18 knots, and a centreline Foden diesell for loitering.On 21 December 1988 it was scuttled in Leeugat Bay 630 m northwest of Duiker Point in a classified weapons exercise, at34°02.068′S18°18.180′E / 34.034467°S 18.303000°E /-34.034467; 18.303000, which broke the hull into several pieces which lie scattered over a fairly large area.[1][b]
11 October 1993: ShipAfrikaner sank in Table Bay.TheAfrikaner was a stern trawler of 860 tons, built in Cape Town in 1970, and powered by a diesel engine with a single screw. Length 54.86 m, beam 11.76 m. It sank on 11 October 1993 while under tow in Table Bay 3.4 km southwest of Robben Island lighthouse as a consequence of damage incurred by grounding on Whale Rock. The wreck[b] is considerably broken up and lies at33°50.017′S18°20.686′E / 33.833617°S 18.344767°E /-33.833617; 18.344767 in 51 m depth between two shallower areas of rocky reef.[1]
27 June 1994: BargeBOS 400 wrecked on the Cape peninsula.BOS 400 was a Frenchderrick/lay barge that ran aground while being towed by the Russian tugboatTigr on June 26, 1994.[111][1]
Despite several attempts to refloat, the vessel was considered a total loss as salvors were able to recover little.BOS 400 still has a large crane and part of the superstructure visible above sea level. The wreck[b] is slowly disintegrating. The vessel ran aground on the north side of Duiker Point at34°02.216′S18°18.537′E / 34.036933°S 18.308950°E /-34.036933; 18.308950 after the tow-line parted during a storm.[1]
19 November 1994: ShipPietermaritzburg scuttled in False Bay.HMSPelorus (pennant number: J291) was anAlgerine-classminesweeper built for the Royal Navy duringWorld War II. On completion, the ship became theflotilla leader of the 7th Minesweeper Flotilla, clearing mines off the east coast of England. In June 1944, the flotilla was assigned to sweep one of the beaches during theNormandy landings.[1][103]
Pelorus displaced 1,030 long tons (1,047 t) atstandard load and 1,325 long tons (1,346 t) atdeep load. The ship had anoverall length of 225 feet (68.6 m), abeam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m) and a deepdraught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m). She was powered by a pair ofvertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by twoAdmiralty three-drum boilers. The engines developed a total of 2,400indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 16.5knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).[1][103]
After the war, she was sold to theSouth African Navy and renamed HMSASPietermaritzburg. The ship was later converted into amidshipmans'training ship during the early 1960s. She served as abarracks ship from 1968 to 1991 whenPietermaritzburg was listed for disposal. The ship was scuttled on 19 November 1994 by the SA Navy as an artificial reef 1 km north of Miller's Point in False Bay at34°13.297′S18°28.456′E / 34.221617°S 18.474267°E /-34.221617; 18.474267.[1][103][b]
9 August 1997: Motor fishinng vesselAster scuttled off the Cape Peninsula.Aster was a 360-ton steel motor fishing trawler built inHull, England in 1964, with a single engine and shaft. Length 42.62 m, beam 8.18 m. It was converted for lobster fishing and later scuttled on 9 August 1997 as an artificial reef and recreational dive site 1.5 km south of Hout Bay harbour at34°03.895′S18°20.958′E / 34.064917°S 18.349300°E /-34.064917; 18.349300. In preparation, the vessel was cleaned of major pollutants, stripped of items that were considered a high risk for entanglement, and a few openings were cut for easier access. The wreck[b] lies upright on the sand bottom at about 26 m. the site is popular with recreational divers, and the structure is intact except for the top and front of the wheelhouse.[1]
30 April 1998: Taiwanese fishing trawlerHan Cheng 2, ran aground on the north side of Robben Island.[36]
1998: South African service vessel Sea Challenger ran aground on Robben Island while trying to refloat theHan Cheng 2.[36]
23 June 2000: ShipTreasure sank off Melkbospunt.MVTreasure was a Panamanian-registered bulkcargo ship. The 17-year-old vessel was transporting 140,000tonnes (140,000long tons; 150,000short tons) of iron ore from China to Brazil at the time of the incident.[112][113] TheWeekend Argus newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying the ship was owned by Universal Pearls, which it claimed to be the same Chinese shipping company that ownedApollo Sea (which sank offCape Town's coast in 1994 and caused extensive environmental damage).[114]
Treasure sank on 23 June 2000 from underwater structural damage sustained in foul weather.[112] The vessel went down 6 mi (9.7 km) off the coast of South Africa, betweenRobben Island andDassen Island after developing a hole in her hull. Authorities wanted to tow the ship into the South African harbor for repair, but it was too large and was ordered farther off-shore in an attempt to reduce environmental damage from fuel oil pollution. While under tow in rough seas the tow cables parted and the ship then drifted eastward and sank.[114] The ship's crew were airlifted to safety.
Treasure became a recreational dive site. The ship's large size and the facts that its hull is resting on a flat sand bottom at 51 metres (167 ft) down, and part of its main deck was within 30 metres (98 ft) of the surface, coupled with its location in theBloubergstrand area, have contributed to its popularity.[115]
The wreck[b] lies on the sand at about 11.5 km northwest of Melkbospunt at33°40.382′S18°19.969′E / 33.673033°S 18.332817°E /-33.673033; 18.332817, and is quite broken up. The superstructure lies on the sand on the south side of the stern of the hull.[1]
8 September 2009: ShipSeli 1 stranded in Table Bay.The MVSeli 1 was a Turkishbulk carrier, operated byTEB Maritime ofIstanbul, that was en route toGibraltar when it was driven aground offBloubergstrand nearTable Bay, South Africa by strong westerly winds shortly after midnight on 8 September 2009, having reported engine failure and a snapped anchor chain.[116]
The ship was carrying 30,000 tons of coal, 660 tons ofheavy fuel oil and 60 tons ofdiesel fuel. Strong westerly winds blew the ship from anchorage shortly after midnight on 8 September 2009, and drove it aground nearBloubergstrand,Cape Town.[117] The crew were rescued by the NSRI boats from Station 18 and Station 3.[116]
TheSeli 1 "sustained significant structural damage",[117] but could have been refloated. However, this did not happen and the ship was extensively damaged by late winter storms[118] Initial salvage operations focused on removal of 630,000 litres of oil from the ship.[117] Eventually the ship was broken up on site and much of the wreckage removed as scrapThe wreck[b] lies 530 m off Bloubergstrand, Table Bay, at33°49.473′S18°28.261′E / 33.824550°S 18.471017°E /-33.824550; 18.471017.[1]
A further 22 wrecks have been found and surveyed by multibeam sonar, but have not been identified as of early 2025.[1]
There are also vessels known or reported to have been lost in this vicinity, but their positions are not known, or no wreckage remains.
Some vessels have been reported to have been wrecked in this region, but there is strong evidence that they were not:[31]
climate zone – Csb (Warm temperate climate with dry and warm summer)
