Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks Mapped Off the Western Cape

Wood, Iron and Steel arises from a two-year seafloor mapping programme by Wreckless Marine off the coast of the Western Cape. Many wrecks, both known and unknown, were mapped during this programme and the authors Bruce Henderson and Kelly Graham used the data, along with extensive research, to produce this book.

With contributions from the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) and the Council for Geoscience (CGS) and an introduction on South Africa’s maritime history by renowned maritime author Brian Ingpen, Wood, Iron and Steel presents sixty shipwrecks dating from 1697 to 2009 that reflect the rich maritime history of the region. Each entry features detailed technical data of the vessel, its history, the circumstances of its loss, and a description of the wreck in its current resting place. Entries include contemporary photographs or paintings of the vessels, underwater photographs and vivid multibeam sonar images of the wrecks on the seafloor. Accurate, up-to-date information now replaces data that was scant or, sometimes, incorrect, and several ‘lost’ wrecks have been described for the first time.

This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in history, maritime history and archaeology, shipping, shipwrecks, and diving. The book is the first of its kind in South Africa, combining state-of-the-art, high-resolution sonar images of shipwrecks, diving photography, and archive images offering an unparalleled glimpse into these hidden maritime archaeological treasures. The graphic images and detailed accounts of the circumstances surrounding each shipwreck provide a tangible link between the sea, its stories and South Africa’s past.