Tanker wrecks around the South African coast

[j.sabourn]

Ian your name rings bells, you are not the Ian Walsh who would have been in Runcimans in the late 50”s are you.?
JWS

[Alan Knight]

I think that you are thinking of the "Salem", which discharged her cargo in Durban, under the name "Alema", before being scuttled off W. Africa. The crew were picked up by a B.P. tanker, whose Master "smelled a rat" when the "Salem" was high out of the water, and the crew had their suitcases and packed lunches in the lifeboat. The Owner of "Salem" was never caught, but the Master and C/E got four years imprisonment.

That's the one that discharged her cargo supposedly in secret off Durban at a SBM in apartheid South Africa then sailed up the West Africa coast where they scuttled her - early 70's.

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World Glory, a Niarchos tanker NE of Durban 1968 hit be a freak wave, broke up and sank, only 3 survivors - the C/O, R/O and a deck hand. They were in the water for 24 hours and rescued by a fishing boat