Shipwrecks around Robben Island

A dangerous island passage with a long history of shipwrecks

Robben Island lies just offshore from Cape Town, but its position in the often unpredictable waters of Table Bay made it a notorious hazard for ships. Strong winds, currents, reefs and sudden changes in weather contributed to numerous wrecks over the centuries. These shipwrecks form part of the island’s rich maritime history and reveal the dangers faced by vessels approaching Cape Town.

Scuttled Around the Island

    • Sleuthound (1949) – Scuttled off Robben Island.
    • Quoin (1950) – Scuttled off Robben Island.
    • Richard Bennett (1954) – Scuttled at Robben Island.
    • Clara (1961) – Scuttled near Robben Island.
    • Uni 1 (1961) – Scuttled near Robben Island.
    • Adelaar (1962) – Scuttled near Robben Island.
    • Groote Schuur (1972) – Scuttled at Robben Island.
    • Tristania 1 (1973) – Scuttled at Robben Island.
    • TS McEwan (1977) – Scuttled near the lighthouse.
    • Boston Wheelsby (1984) – Scuttled at Robben Island.
    • Southern Cross – Scuttled off Robben Island.

Whale Rock & Murray’s Bay Reefs

    • Nieuwe Rhoon (1776) – Wrecked at Whale Rock.
    • Perseverance (1826) – Wrecked at Whale Rock.
    • Sea Eagle (1856) – Smashed into Murray’s Bay.

Around Robben Island (1600s – 1800s)

    • Schapenjacht (1660) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Dageraad (1694) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Flora (1821) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Gondolier (1826) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Thorne (1831) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Gondolier (1836) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Bittern (1848) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Kingston (1852) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Dorothea (1853) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Elvira (1855) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Timor (1856) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Bemicia (1861) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • A.H. Stevens (1862) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Forfarshire (1864) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
    • Il Nazareno (1885) – Wrecked at Robben Island.

Around Robben Island (1900s – Present)

  • Tantallon Castle (1901) – Grounded at Robben Island.
  • Natal (1914) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Rangatira (1916) – Grounded at Robben Island.
  • Carlos de Eizaguirre (1917) – Struck a mine near the island.
  • Golden Crown (1923) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • James Pitcher (1925) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Hypatia (1928) – Grounded at Robben Island.
  • Solhagen (1936) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Oklahoman (1942) – Torpedoed near the Island.
  • Falken Outspan (1953) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Erica (1958) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Rebecca (1959) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Francis Repetto (1971) – Grounded at Robben Island.
  • Goel No. 1 (1976) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Arum (1979) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Chanson de la Mer (1986) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Daeyang Family (1986) – Grounded at Robben Island.
  • Han Cheng 2 (1998) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Sea Challenger (1998) – Wrecked at Robben Island.
  • Kathleen Louise III (2005) – Wrecked at Robben Island.

Find out more about Robben Island

Discover the story of shipwrecks around the Western Cape in chronological order or search shipwrecks by region; alternatively, explore the alphabetical list