Cape Town Harbour some History

[Doc Vernon]

Cape Town Harbour Now.jpg

History

The history of the port follows that of Cape Town, which traces its roots back to 6 April 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a revictualing station there. Earlier explorers had called it Table Bay from the late 15th century onwards.
The first harbour construction was a jetty built in 1654 by van Riebeeck. Ships all anchored in the bay, and goods were transferred to and from the shore by smaller vessels. Table Bay is notorious for violent winter storms, when the wind blows on to a lee shore. Massive shipping losses were sustained by the Dutch Vereenigde OstIndische Companje, to the extent that eventually Table Bay was closed during the winter months, and ships were ordered to use Simon's Bay (part of False Bay, where Simon's Town is now) in winter.
A vicious storm in 1858, long after the demise of the VOC, saw 30 ships blown ashore and wrecked, with huge loss of life. Lloyd's of London declined all further insurance on ships in Table Bay in winter, resulting in the British Colonial Government starting the construction, in 1860, of the first breakwater. This developed into the Victoria and Alfred Basin, the first safe harbour. There has been extensive expansion since then.


Main areas

The port evolved greatly over the centuries and currently consists of several main components:

• The Ben Schoeman Dock: This is the larger outer dock of the port, where the container terminal is situated.
• The Duncan Dock: This is the smaller and the older inner dock, containing the multi-purpose and fruit terminals as well as a dry dock, repair quay and tanker basin.
• The yachting marina.
• The Victoria and Alfred Basins: These were the main piers of the original Cape Town harbour, but now house the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. However, these basins are still used by smaller commercial vessels such as fishing and pleasure boats and also by smaller passenger cruise ships.

[happy daze john in oz]

Still one of my favorite ports, with Table Mountain in the back ground it creates an impressive sight.

Yesterday speaking with a lady there, she was a member of my ISP team, spread all over the world with iinet, the one we use.
She told me the weather was good, the dams are now full thanks to some good winter rain and looking forward to a good summer.

[vic mcclymont]

The origins of the Cape Mails dates back to the fifteenth century.
Sailors would leave letters under the postal stones for collection by ships heading back to Europe.
Vic

[happy daze john in oz]

The origins of the Cape Mails dates back to the fifteenth century.
Sailors would leave letters under the postal stones for collection by ships heading back to Europe.
Vic

And judging by the time some mail takes it would suggest they still do.

[Bryan Portwig]

cape town today Cape-Town.jpg

[happy daze john in oz]

Like so many cities Cape Town has over the years grown to what it is today.

My ISP when I call with a problem will often patch me through to the Cape Town office, that often means more talk about the town and mountain than my computer problem.

But so much of what we knew back then is now gone.
OK Bazars, Manchester Hotel, Delmonicos, Navigators Den, (mentioned in one of Wibur Smiths stories), Tiki Hoc Bar, signing the book to but grog, UCL liners along with many others, most of the ladies we then knew, Lakas the taxi driver, and I am told the horse drawn carriage that went from out side Adderly Street railway station.

So many mamories of those wonderful days.

[Bill Morrison]

This from the George Washington Wilson photographic collection, held by the University of Aberdeen. Cape Town from Signal Hill around the late 1800's early 1900's
Bill.

[j.sabourn]

#7 I always remember Capetown as having two in one harbours Bill, one called Duncan harbour , can’t remember the other at this moment in time . Cheers JS. Ps. Sent this before seeing Vernon’s picture . Thanks Vernon. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Simonstown was the spot where the Royal navy had their ships, well away from the rest of us.
But the docks like so many then were a busy place lot of local non whites worked there though if the story is true their wages was not that good,

But a port of great interest for so many.

In the early days of sailing ships all on their way to Oz stopped there to pick up food and water.
They also picked up a variety of plants which they brought to Oz.
WE have so many species here that came from South Africa you could at times think you are still there.