SS Namaqua (Namakwa) Shipwreck
Our coastlines have been used by the marine industry for many years, connecting South Africa to the many countries around the world. Various environmental factors, however, made using the coastline a dangerous activity at times, resulting in many wreckages. One of these many shipwrecks is the SS Namaqua (Namakwa). The shipwreck is located at Eiland Punt, near the Hondeklip Bay. It is sometimes called Eiland Point, named after a rock point, that extends into the sea, part of which is cut off by a stream, falsely giving the impression of a small island. This 116-ton iron steamship wrecked on the 31st of May 1889. It wrecked after it struck a reef, having been forced by the powerful currents on the day. It was alleged that the ship carried store goods and barrels of wine, which were accessed by local farmers at the time of wreckage. The area where this shipwreck is located has a rugged terrain, accessible by 4 x 4 vehicles.
It is important to point out that there are two ships that have been given the name Namaqua along the South African coastline. They were trading along the same route, between Cape Town and the West Coast, at the same period. This often causes much confusion. The other ship, also named SS Namaqua, was built in 1873 by Oswald Shipbuilding Co. Pallion based in Sunderland, in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Southampton Steam Shipping Co. The ship, which weighed 352 tons, was built for the Port Nolloth to Cape Town copper ore service and wrecked off Port Nolloth, south of Hondeklip Bay, in March 1876, when it was under the command of Captain Gibbs.
GPS Waypoints: 30°55'00.4"S 17°36'11.3"E