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Shipwrecks near Yzerfontein's coast
1994 Apollo Sea

On the afternoon of the 20th June 1994, the Chinese ore carrier, the Apollo Sea left Saldanha Bay. Four hours later the Apollo Sea sent two distress signals to China and was not heard from again. South African authorities were notified of the sinking only 5 days laters. It was established that the vessel had sunk together with all its 36 crew members (in the same spot as oil was visibly surfacing), at a depth of 180m, with 2470 tons of fuel oil on board.

South Africans were unaware of the Apollo Sea's troubles, and the first sign of the oil spill was when oil-soaked penguins came ashore on Dassen Island on the 22nd June 1994. What followed was the biggest rescue of penguins ever carried out in South Africa. The amenities in the area were heavily polluted, and clean-up operations lasted four months.

1983 Castillo de Bellver

In August 1983 the 271 540 ton Spanish oiltanker, the Castillo de Bellver, caught fire after an explosion on board and split in two; 46 miles west of Dassen Island. It was carrying 200 000 tons of oil on board. Three of the 36-man crew died in the explosion.

The aft-section of the ship sank about 27 sea-miles west of Yzerfontein (with 10 000 tons of oil on board). The forward section was towed 230km off the coast by the tugboat, the John Ross, it was blown up and sank in 3km deep water.

1976 Fong Shong 22

The Fong Shong 22 was a Taiwanese fishing vessel which ran aground off Dassen Island in April 1976.

1974 Harvest Pluto

The Harvest Pluto was a 199 ton South African fishing vessel which collided and sank 50 miles west of Dassen Island in August 1974.

1969 Agis Asteriadis

The Agis Asteriadis was a Greek freighter of 10 000 tonnage, which had its hull damaged off Dassen Island in August 1969, and was then towed to Cape Town.

1966 Danie Hugo

The Danie Hugo was a South African barge of 812 tonnage which grounded off Dassen Island in December 1966, but was refloated and repaired in Cape Town.

1961 Southern Author

The Southern Author was a 40 ton South African fishing vessel which grounded off Dassen Island in June 1961.

1947 Caroline

The Caroline was a South African fishing vessel of 50 tonnage wrecked off Dassen Island in October 1947.

1942 U-179

U-179 was a German submarine IXD-42 of 1 804 tons which was sunk by the British light cruiser HMS Active, 60 miles west of Dassen Island, in October 1942.

1942 Oklahoman

The Oklahoman was a 5 508 ton United States vessel which was grounded off Dassen Island, refloated and sank 1.25 miles west of Robben Island in July 1942.

1917 City of Athens

The City of Athens was a British vessel which struck a mine and sank off Dassen Island in August 1917.

1917 Cilicia

The Cilicia was a British vessel which struck a mine and sunk, off Dassen Island in February 1917.

1917 Matheran

The Matheran was a 7654 ton British vessel which struck a mine and sunk, off Dassen Island in January 1917.

1909 Cerne

The Cerne was a Bucket Dredger of 700 tonnage which ran aground off Dassen Island in January 1909.

1897 Haab

The Haab was a 798 ton Barque which grounded on Dassen Island in October 1897.

1893 Rising Star

The Rising Star was grounded off Dassen Island in March 1893.

1891 Wallarah

The Wallarah was a 3 505 ton vessel which was grounded in fog off Dassen Island on her maiden voyage in July 1891.

1890 Prince

The Prince was grounded of Ysterfontein Point in December 1890.

1890 Ashleigh Brook

The Ashleigh Brook was a 2 683 ton steamer which ran aground off Dassen Island in May 1890.

1880 Strathmore

The Strathmore was a 500 ton barque which sank 0.5 miles off Dassen Island in September 1880.

1876 Windsor Castle

The Windsor Castle was a 2 672 ton steamer which grounded off Dassen Island in October 1876. After the ship struck Dassen Island, Jasmes Searle and a British army lieutenant rowed 8 kilometres to the mainland. There they obtained horses and galloped a further 24km to Darling, where they procured a passenger cart and horses. Finally, they rode 80km to Cape Town and were able to alert shipping authorities, who sent help to the rest of the passengers.

1873 Roman

The Roman was a steamer grounded off Dassen Island in June 1873.

1865 Queen of Ava

The Queen of Ava was a British wooden barque of 422t, built in 1853 at Sunderland. It was commanded by Captain J Petherick, and wrecked on the north side of Dassen Island on 29 October 1865 while on voyage from Cardiff to Table Bay with a cargo of coal. The captain and crew landed on Dassen Island and were brought to Table Bay by a cutter. No lives were lost.

1865 Fleetwood

The Fleetwood was a barque which ran aground off Dassen Island in June 1865.

1850 Childe Herold

In 1850, the Childe Herold, a 463-ton British wooden ship was grounded off Dassen Island. It was on its way to London from Bombay and carried in excess of 1300 ivory pieces.

1843 Conservative

The Conservative was a brig of 250 tonnage grounded off Yzterfontein in March 1843.

1839 Shylock

The Shylock was a cutter which grounded off Dassen Island in March 1839.

1830 Lady Holland

The Lady Holland grounded off Dassen Island in February 1830.

1683 Haagman

The Haagman was a whaler which grounded off Dassen Island in December 1683.

1668 Scholvert

The Scholvert sank between Robben Island and Dassen Island in May 1668.