Page 6 - Bulletin 9 2005

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historical shipwrecks represent the tangible remains of the vehicle - in both the physical and
abstract sense - which wrought an irrevocable change on the course of the history of

southern Africa.

South Africa’s maritime heritage offers a unique blend of pre-colonial and colonial

remains. The rich multi-component heritage is made up of such diverse elements as
shipwrecks, shipwreck survivor camps, maritime installations such as harbours, boatyards

and lighthouses, coastal shell middens and fish traps, rock art and oral traditions.

The international importance of South Africa’s historical shipwreck resource should also
not be overlooked. Most of the vessels lost on our coast over the years were not from, or

bound for South Africa, but were en route to and from elsewhere. There is thus a great deal

of interest from other countries in these sites, and with accelerating globalization this is
only likely to increase.

Why are there so many wrecks?

Since the Portuguese first pioneered the European sea route to the East in 1498, South
Africa has occupied a unique position on international shipping routes, situated almost

exactly halfway between the bustling trade centres of Europe and the exotic markets of the
Far East. Historians have described Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas, and

Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the all sea route to the East, as the two most important

events in history. These Voyages of Discovery changed the world irreversibly and began to
shape it into what we know today. And within this context, the Cape was an important

anchorage from the beginning, but became increasingly important after 1652 as a
refreshment station to supply vessels plying the Eastern trade route.

It is no accident that the Cape was known amongst sailors as the “Cape of Storms”. At

almost 35º S, the Cape is battered by the severe southern ocean weather conditions. North-