Algoa Bay Shipwrecks
Page Creator: Stratlec Trust
Algoa Bay, located on the eastern coast of South Africa, is historically known as a treacherous anchorage and has claimed over 500 ships, earning it a reputation as a "graveyard of ships." This high number of shipwrecks is not due to a single cause but rather a confluence of challenging geographical and meteorological factors, compounded by historical maritime practices.
Geographical Factors
Open Bight: Algoa Bay is a large, semi-circular bay, or "bight," that is wide and open to the sea. Unlike a sheltered natural harbour, it provides little protection from the elements, particularly from the southeast.
The "Bight" of North End: The northern curve of the bay, historically referred to as the "bight," was especially notorious. This area was a popular anchorage for ships awaiting cargo or favourable winds, but its curved shape made it easy for vessels to be driven ashore by strong onshore winds.
Submerged Hazards: The bay's waters, particularly near the coastline, contain several reefs and submerged rocks, such as Despatch Rock and Thunderbolt Reef. These hidden obstacles, often covered at high tide, posed a constant threat to ships navigating in and out of the bay.
Meteorological and Oceanographic Factors
South-Easterly Gales: The most significant and dangerous threat to ships in the bay was the powerful "Black South-Easter" gale. These sudden and violent storms, which can blow for days, produce high seas and strong onshore winds that directly impact the open bay. Ships at anchor were frequently unable to hold their position and were dragged towards the shore, losing their anchors and eventually being driven onto the beach or rocks. The Great Gale of 1902 is a prominent example, which destroyed 21 ships in a single event.
Agulhas Current: The strong Agulhas Current, which flows southwest along the coast, interacts with the bay's bathymetry (underwater topography), creating complex and unpredictable currents. This could push ships off course, sometimes without the crew's knowledge, and into dangerous waters or reefs near the shoreline.
Rogue Waves: The combination of the Agulhas Current and powerful storms can create "rogue waves," exceptionally large and spontaneous waves that can overwhelm and sink even large vessels.
Historical Context and Technology
Roadstead Anchorage: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, before the construction of a breakwater and modern port facilities, Algoa Bay served as a roadstead, a place where ships would drop anchor offshore to load and unload cargo using smaller boats called lighters. This practice left ships vulnerable to storms for extended periods.
Vessels and Equipment: Many of the ships that used the bay were sailing vessels or early steamers that were at the mercy of the winds and had limited manoeuvrability. Furthermore, some vessels were in poor condition with rusted cables and inadequate anchors, making them even more susceptible to the powerful gales.
List of Shipwrecks
| Year | Month | Ship | Incident Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1591 | September | Penelope | |
| 1755 | July | Doddington | Wrecked |
| 1756 | Happy Deliverance | Rescue Ship | |
| 1782 | August | Grosvenor | Wrecked |
| 1796 | January | Ann & Eliza | Wrecked |
| 1797 | Hope, HM Brig | Survey Ship | |
| 1799 | Camel | Sea Battle | |
| 1802 | August | Harriet | Wrecked |
| 1814 | December | William Pitt | Wrecked |
| 1817 | December | Amsterdam HMNS | Grounded |
| 1818 | Concorde (La) | Distressed | |
| 1819 | August | Good Hope | Wrecked |
| 1820 | April | Chapman | First 1820 Ship |
| 1822 | March | Elizabeth | Wrecked |
| 1823 | March | Heworth | Wrecked |
| 1828 | Helicon HMS | Shaka Ship | |
| 1830 | October | Gowan | Wrecked |
| 1830 | January | Francis Watson | Wrecked |
| 1832 | June | Essex | Wrecked |
| 1834 | October | Kate | Wrecked |
| 1834 | July | Gustav | Leaky |
| 1834 | January | Eliza & Jane | Grounded |
| 1835 | October | Cape Breton | Wrecked |
| 1837 | August | Feejee | Wrecked |
| 1838 | April | Charles Dumergue | Rescued Survivors |
| 1839 | April | Betsy & Sara | Wrecked |
| 1840 | May | Jack Tar | Wrecked |
| 1840 | May | Dom Pedro Duque de Porto | Wrecked |
| 1840 | September | Alert | Wrecked |
| 1842 | March | Ligonier | Wrecked |
| 1842 | December | George IV | Stranded |
| 1843 | August | Laura | Wrecked |
| 1843 | August | Elizabeth Rowell | Wrecked |
| 1843 | June | Eliza | Leaky |
| 1843 | August | Delhi | Wrecked |
| 1843 | October | Abbotsford | Wrecked |
| 1844 | August | Isabel | Wrecked |
| 1845 | March | Horwood | Wrecked |
| 1845 | November | Charles | Wrecked |
| 1846 | Josephina | Leaky | |
| 1846 | March | Jim Crow | Wrecked |
| 1846 | March | Blackaller | Wrecked |
| 1847 | October | Killermont | Stranded |
| 1847 | March | Gilbert Henderson | Wrecked |
| 1848 | February | Lady Leith | Wrecked |
| 1848 | April | Johanna | Wrecked |
| 1848 | July | Foxhound | Distressed |
| 1849 | March | Frances Burn | Wrecked |
| 1850 | May | John Witt | Distressed |
| 1850 | July | India | Distressed |
| 1850 | Hamilton | Distressed | |
| 1850 | September | Grindlays | Abandoned |
| 1850 | June | Elephanta | Distressed |
| 1850 | October | Doris | Wrecked |
| 1850 | June | Border Maid | Aid Grindlays |
| 1850 | February | Amelia Mulholland | Wrecked |
| 1851 | September | Albinia | Wrecked |
| 1852 | May | Argo | Distressed |
| 1852 | August | Amwell | Wrecked |
| 1853 | August | Fanely | Grounded |
| 1853 | July | Cuba | Grounded |
| 1854 | February | Katherine Gwladys | Wrecked |
| 1854 | April | Flibberty | Distressed |
| 1854 | September | Charlotte | Wrecked |
| 1854 | December | Flora | Wrecked |
| 1855 | May | Josephine | Wrecked |
| 1855 | October | East London Packet | Wrecked |
| 1856 | June | Loontine Mary | Lost at Sea |
| 1856 | July | Amigos | Leaky |
| 1857 | June | Exhibition | Distressed |
| 1857 | February | Eurydice | Wrecked |
| 1857 | May | Emperor | Rescuer |
| 1857 | October | Cape Lassie | Grounded |
| 1857 | June | Bonita | Distressed |
| 1857 | April | Alert | Gounded |
| 1858 | May | Lamora | Leaky |
| 1858 | February | Buffon | Wrecked |
| 1858 | June | Albert Durer | Leaky |
| 1859 | June | Lismoyne | Distressed |
| 1859 | October | Johanna Christina | Distressed |
| 1859 | May | Harbinger SS | Dsitressed |
| 1859 | October | Governess | Wrecked |
| 1859 | July | Gaston et Felicie | Distressed |
| 1859 | December | Fanely | Grounded |
| 1859 | October | Covenanter | Distressed |
| 1859 | October | Christina Maria | Distressed |
| 1859 | October | Baseileia | Distressed |
| 1859 | January | Arabian | Wrecked |
| 1859 | August | Annie Smith | Abandoned |
| 1860 | November | Gladiator | Wrecked |
| 1861 | January | James Leaky | Collison |
| 1861 | January | Hero | Wrecked |
| 1861 | September | Barbadoes | Wrecked |
| 1862 | August | Dirigo | Distressed |
| 1862 | Combay | Drifting | |
| 1862 | July | Charlotte A Morrison | Leaky |
| 1865 | December | Dane SS | Wrecked |
| 1866 | August | Ilva | Distressed |
| 1866 | June | Hermann | Distressed |
| 1866 | June | Formosa | Distressed |
| 1866 | June | Forest Grove | Distressed |
| 1866 | July | Enfield | Distressed |
| 1866 | Alfred | Sank at Sea | |
| 1866 | June | Agincourt | Fire |
| 1867 | February | L'Imperatrice Eugenie | Wrecked |
| 1867 | July | Krimpenwaard | Distressed |
| 1867 | July | Jacob Levey | Distressed |
| 1867 | Himalaya | Distressed | |
| 1867 | May | Friesland | Distressed |
| 1867 | June | Charlotte | Abandoned |
| 1867 | May | British Crown | Distressed |
| 1869 | September | Joanne | Wrecked |
| 1869 | February | Havering | Quarantine |
| 1869 | August | Gustaf | Grounded |
| 1869 | September | Forres | Wrecked |
| 1869 | September | Flash | Wrecked |
| 1869 | September | Fingoe | Wrecked |
| 1869 | September | England | Wrecked |
| 1869 | September | Duke of Buccleugh | Grounded |
| 1869 | September | Annie Eliza | Wrecked |
| 1870 | July | Leucothea | Distressed |
| 1870 | July | Lena | Distressed |
| 1870 | July | Houghton Tower | Distressed |
| 1870 | September | Galene | Wrecked |
| 1870 | July | Estafette | Distressed |
| 1870 | July | Burmah | Distressed |
| 1870 | July | Bulwark | Distressed |
| 1870 | July | Arabia | Distressed |
| 1870 | May | Annie S Hall | Desertions |
| 1870 | July | Alma | Leaky |
| 1871 | May | Gambia | Wrecked |
| 1871 | December | Edith Smith | Wrecked |
| 1871 | July | Dorothy | Distressed |
| 1871 | July | Alida | Disabled |
| 1871 | February | Abdul Medjid | Wrecked |
| 1872 | May | Glamorganshire | Distressed |
| 1872 | March | Fred Warren | Distressed |
| 1872 | March | Fountain | Wrecked |
| 1872 | December | Elizabeth Brown | Wrecked |
| 1872 | November | EB Lohe | Wrecked |
| 1872 | August | Eastella SS | Distressed |
| 1872 | November | Cruiser | Wrecked |
| 1872 | November | Anne Marie | Wrecked |
| 1872 | June | Anna | Distressed |
| 1873 | January | Jane Law | Distressed |
| 1873 | April | Hotbank | Wrecked |
| 1873 | April | Fidela SS | Grounded |
| 1873 | October | Emma | Grounded |
| 1874 | September | Lochawe | Collision |
| 1874 | September | Hermann | Wrecked |
| 1874 | June | Glenhaven | Distressed |
| 1875 | April | Jupiter T | Wrecked |
| 1875 | October | Fruiterer | Distressed |
| 1875 | November | Fearless | Distressed |
| 1875 | October | Ceylon | Wrecked |
| 1875 | September | Bibsy | Wrecked |
| 1875 | July | Annie Fleming | Distressed |
| 1875 | October | Alphington | Damaged |
| 1875 | December | Nicolene | Wrecked |
| 1876 | December | Laura | Distressed |
| 1876 | Fenruary | Lady MacDonald | Wrecked |
| 1876 | October | Kate Gregory | Fire |
| 1876 | September | Duke of Argyll | Distressed |
| 1877 | May | Hydra | Collision |
| 1877 | September | Hester | Distressed |
| 1877 | April | Her Majesty | Distressed |
| 1877 | September | Eleanor Grace | Distressed |
| 1877 | August | Alma | Wrecked |
| 1878 | Herman | Deserted | |
| 1878 | August | Eudora | Grounded |
| 1878 | January | Essex | Distressed |
| 1878 | June | Dahlia | Distressed |
| 1878 | April | Catherine Scott | Wrecked |
| 1878 | October | Catherine | Wrecked |
| 1878 | April | Ben Nevis | Distressed |
| 1878 | July | Ardour | Distressed |
| 1878 | January | Anne Royden | Distressed |
| 1878 | January | Anna | Distressed |
| 1878 | July | Andreas Rickmers | Distressed |
| 1878 | July | Almira Coombs | Wrecked |
| 1879 | July | Europa | Distressed |
| 1879 | January | Barso | Grounded |
| 1879 | October | Alpi | Wrecked |
| 1879 | January | Acacia | Leaky |
| 1879 | November | California | Blown Ashore |
| 1880 | April | Johannes | Distressed |
| 1880 | August | Flying Scud | Wrecked |
| 1880 | September | Copenhagen | Rescue |
| 1880 | December | Clydesdale | Grounded |
| 1880 | November | Clara | Wrecked |
| 1880 | April | Brilliant | Leaking |
| 1880 | September | Bates Family | Abandoned |
| 1880 | December | John N Gamewell | Fire |
| 1881 | May | Leucothea | Distressed |
| 1881 | May | John Haugvalstad | Distressed |
| 1881 | October | Johanna | Wrecked |
| 1881 | April | Jaques Fourestier | Leaking |
| 1881 | May | Flying Spur | Lost at Sea |
| 1881 | July | Cyprus | Leaky |
| 1881 | December | Albatross | Wrecked |
| 1882 | October | Galloway | Wrecked |
| 1882 | November | Casilda | Distressed |
| 1883 | August | Laurita | Distressed |
| 1883 | November | Kosmopoliet III | Distressed |
| 1883 | July | Franziska | Distressed |
| 1883 | April | Florence | Wrecked |
| 1883 | September | Cyclone (e) | Distressed |
| 1883 | June | Columba Maria | Grounded |
| 1883 | October | Catherine | Wrecked |
| 1884 | July | Helena | Distressed |
| 1884 | August | Caprera | Wrecked |
| 1884 | August | Beatrice | Distressed |
| 1884 | July | Agnes Oswald | Distressed |
| 1885 | October | Jason | Fire |
| 1886 | July | Jorawur | Dismasted |
| 1887 | January | Forest Grove | Wrecked |
| 1887 | February | Jotawur | Wrecked |
| 1887 | October | Curlew | Distressed |
| 1888 | February | Mary Ann | Wrecked |
| 1888 | August | Lada | Wrecked |
| 1888 | August | Jane Harvey | Wrecked |
| 1888 | September | HM Stanley | Wrecked |
| 1888 | May | Gerhardine | Wrecked |
| 1888 | August | Elizabeth Stevens | Wrecked |
| 1888 | August | Drei Emmas | Wrecked |
| 1888 | August | Dorthea | Wrecked |
| 1888 | July-August | C. Boschetta | Wrecked |
| 1888 | July | Burgomeester Schorer | Distressed |
| 1888 | August | Andreas Rus | Wrecked |
| 1889 | July | Kishon | Distressed |
| 1889 | April | Hawarden Castle SS | Collision |
| 1889 | January | Araminta | Wrecked |
| 1890 | May | Lady Milne | Distressed |
| 1890 | January | StrathBlane | Wrecked |
| 1891 | October | Harmonie | Grounded |
| 1891 | August | Fiery Cross | Collision |
| 1892 | June | Imperator | Distressed |
| 1892 | June | Imperator | Disabled |
| 1892 | June | George T Hay | Distressed |
| 1892 | December | Deerhill | Quarantined |
| 1893 | October | Inch Keith | Distressed |
| 1893 | June | Celtic Monarch | Distressed |
| 1894 | December | Clan Ferguson | Disabled |
| 1895 | September | Leif | Distressed |
| 1896 | September | Lakome | Wrecked |
| 1896 | October | Agnar SS | Grounded |
| 1897 | December | Loch Ranza | Distressed |
| 1897 | January | Arngudu | Collision |
| 1897 | May | Cambusnethan | Wrecked |
| 1898 | January | Franz | Wrecked |
| 1898 | June | Emilia | Grounded |
| 1898 | Clara | Grounded | |
| 1899 | May | Lebu | Wrecked |
| 1899 | September | Brambletye SS | Distressed |
| 1900 | July | Kensington SS | Fire |
| 1900 | May | John Sanderson SS | Distressed |
| 1900 | June | Inchulva SS | Fire |
| 1900 | October | Ebenezer SS | Leaky |
| 1900 | August | Arab | Sank |
| 1900 | June | Angerona SS | Grounded |
| 1900 | August | Almora | Fire |
| 1900 | September | Abcona` | Wrecked |
| 1901 | June | James Searle (II) | Wrecked |
| 1901 | May | Hasselnodder | Wrecked |
| 1901 | August | Cromartyshire | Abandoned |
| 1902 | September | Limari | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Iris | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Inchcape Rock | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Hermanos | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Hans Wagner | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Gabrielle | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Emmanuel | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Coriolanus | Rescue |
| 1902 | September | Content | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Constant | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Cavalieri Michele Russo | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Agostina Rombo | Wrecked |
| 1902 | September | Advokat Schiander | Damaged |
| 1903 | November | Lakeside | Damaged |
| 1903 | November | Ladore | Damaged |
| 1903 | November | Elda | Wrecked |
| 1903 | September | Drammen | Distressed |
| 1903 | November | County of Pembroke | Grounded |
| 1903 | November | Countess of Carnarvon | Wrecked |
| 1905 | June | Eira | Disabled |
| 1908 | April | Angus | Wrecked |
| 1910 | February | Crusader SS | Wrecked |
| 1911 | Itzehoe | Wrecked | |
| 1911 | May | Itzehoe | Wrecked |
| 1914 | June | Little Briton | |
| 1914 | March | Dover Castle SS | Damaged |
| 1917 | September | Colonial Empire | Wrecked |
| 1929 | February | Nideras | Wrecked |
| 1930 | October | Sedna | |
| 1934 | January | Paris Maru | Wrecked |
| 1934 | September | Queenmoor | |
| 1937 | January | Outeniqua | |
| 1943 | January | Solfonn | |
| 1954 | December | Maria | |
| 1961 | July | Robrosa | |
| 1972 | July | Kapodistras | Wrecked |
| 1976 | November | Sinni | |
| 1976 | February | Pati | Wrecked |
| 1977 | July | Wolraad Woltemade | |
| 1977 | June | Norse Queen | |
| 1978 | June | Le Condor | |
| 1987 | November | Haerlem | Scuttled |
| 2015 | November | Baratz | Wrecked |
