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

Name: Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks Mapped off the Western Cape
SKU: 9781037007026
Price: 795.00 ZAR
Availability: InStock

R795.00

This book is available for pre-order.

Wood, Iron and Steel 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 and a tangible link between the sea, its stories and South Africa’s past.

Divers, sailors, cultural historians, heritage architects, marine surveyors, and anyone with an interest in the sea will enjoy this glimpse into an unseen world that few people experience.

14 in stock

Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks Mapped off the Western Cape presents 60 shipwrecks mapped off the Western Cape, reflecting the diverse maritime history of the area. Shipwrecks are a tangible link to the past, and part of their allure is uncovering the stories that lie beneath the waves. The featured wrecks, dating from 1697 to 2009, include wooden sailing ships from the Age of Discovery, iron-hulled steamers that traded between Europe and the East, and modern vessels made of steel. From passenger liners to deep-sea trawlers, tugboats, dredgers and bulk carriers, every wreck had a life before it was lost, and every loss is a tale of its own.

The shipwrecks mapped off the Western Cape were surveyed in 2021 as part of a project to map the seafloor off the Western Cape coast. Cutting-edge scanning technology enables us to view them as never before, while on-site dives and extensive research have added to what is known about each vessel. Each entry incorporates technical data, history, the circumstances of loss, and a description of the wreck in its current resting place, accompanied by photographs or paintings, and vivid multibeam sonar images of the wrecks on the seafloor.

An introduction by renowned maritime author, Brian Ingpen, illustrates the role the sea has played in the story of the Cape, and reinforces the challenges of navigating its often-turbulent waters. Wood, Iron and Steel captures the final moments of each vessel, and it highlights the importance of recording and preserving our maritime heritage. Not every wreck is significant, but once any ship disappears below the surface, it becomes an integral part of the underwater landscape, and its legend may persist for generations to come. Divers, sailors, cultural historians, heritage architects, marine surveyors, and anyone with an interest in the sea will enjoy this glimpse into an unseen world that few people experience.

Get your copy of Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks mapped off the Western Cape.

Preview Sample Pages of Wood, Iron and Steel: Shipwrecks mapped off the Western Cape

WOOD_IRON_STEEL

Weight	970 g
Dimensions	27.5 × 21.5 × 2 cm
Cover:	Softcover (with flaps)
Published By:	Quickfox Publishing
ISBN:	9781037007026
Book Dimensions:	275mm x 215mm (Portrait)
Page extent:	192
Website:	http://www.wrecklessmarine.com

Author

Bruce Henderson has been diving and sailing since the 1980s. At the end of 2021, he retired from his position as CEO of a large South African food business and took on a full-time role at his marine research company, Wreckless Marine.

Bruce is a licensed PADI divemaster, an IANTD technical dive instructor with trimix certifications for open and closed-circuit diving, a SAMSA Category A (Offshore) skipper for vessels over 9 m, and an SAS Yacht Master. He holds a BA LLB from the University of Natal, and an MBA from the University of Cape Town.

Kelly Graham is an IANTD-qualified technical diver. To pursue her passion for local shipwrecks, she joined the Wreckless Marine team as a researcher. She is particularly interested in the use of digitisation technologies, and intellectual property for heritage research and dissemination. She holds a SAMSA Category C (Inshore) skipper’s certification. After graduating with an LLM from the University of Cape Town, she entered private practice as a commercial litigator, before becoming a legal consultant.