Umzimvubu
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shipstamps
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- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm
Umzimvubu
Coaster. Purchased about 1896 by Sir Charles G Smith. Traded out of Port St Johns as well as carrying mail and freight between East London and Durban during Boer War. On one voyage ran out of fuel and drifted ashore, later refloated. 25 years service with Smith. Sold to Thesens, Kenya 1921 Renamed NAMAGUA - Transki 1986. 20c. SG181 (LB 15/150. 17/237)
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aukepalmhof
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Re: Umzimvubu
Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 371 by Edwards & Co at Millwall, London, for Charles George Smith of Natal.
Launched as the UMZIMVUBU what means in Xhosa “Umizi – home” and “Mvubu-Hippopotamus”.
Tonnage 150 grt. Dim?
Two compound steam engines, 64 nhp., twin propellers, speed 10 knots.
1896 Completed.
Special built for the coastal trade off the coast of South Africa.
During the Boer War she carried the mail from Durban to East London and Port Elizabeth.
During that time she had a reputation for not having missed a trip irrespective of the weather. At the same time, she was reputed to be most uncomfortable craft, rolling and pitching violently.
She transported Sir Winston Churchill from Durban to East London shortly after his escape from the Boers who had taken him prisoner of war near Chievely in Natal. During this trip the weather was awful and Churchill in one of his books stated “that my trip on the UMZIMVUBU to East London was the worst that I have ever experienced, as the beastly little boat rolled and pitched at the same time.
She was also used to carry equipment and stores to Port St. Johns to assist with hunting the GROSVENOR treasure. After the equipment was offloaded at Port St. Johns she were carted by ox wagon the 30 odd miles to the wreck site.
For several years she stayed on this service till she was bought for £5,000 by a new formed shipping company in Port St. Johns.
Reported as having paid for herself in five years, she was used extensively in 1907 to carry hides and skins when the East Coast Fever (Rinderpest) swept through the Eastern Cape and Transkei killing all the cattle and leaving their owners only the hides to sell.
1920 With on board a cargo of life pigs as deck cargo bound for Durban, under command of Captain Wahlgren she was refused to enter the port by the Port Captain due to the high seas breaking on the bar in the entrance of the port. She attempted to head again for open sea but due to the bad weather she drifted ashore during the night where the waves and tide dumped her above the high tide mark.
The captain was not sure as to what he had run aground on, so hung a hurricane lamp over the side. In the dim light of the lamp all he was able to see were rounded forms which he took for boulders. These turned out to be the cargo of 100 odd pigs which had swept overboard, and were now sheltering under the lee side of the stranded vessel.
Storm & Co was granted the first contract to refloat her, but after one month, without that the wreck was moving he gave up.
New tenders were called in, where after Charles Sydney Mayton and his father got the contract, and they succeeded to refloat the vessel.
During the grounding the UMZIMVUBU suffered extensive damage and it was decided to sell her to the British & South American Steamship Co, “Houston” Line in Cape Town.
Renamed in NAMAQUA and used in the service from Cape Town to Port Nolloth.
The end of her career was when she was used in the Shark Protection venture in Durban.
But when not more needed she was put on the sale list.
Not any buyer came forward and for some time she lingered around in Durban Bay.
Then it was decided to scuttle her, and towed outside by the tug Sir John Robinson she was scuttled in the waters next to hulks of four other vessels on Saturday 12 November 1932 off Durban.
Transkei 1986 20c sg181, scott?
Source: Watercraft Philately 1986/83/84.
Launched as the UMZIMVUBU what means in Xhosa “Umizi – home” and “Mvubu-Hippopotamus”.
Tonnage 150 grt. Dim?
Two compound steam engines, 64 nhp., twin propellers, speed 10 knots.
1896 Completed.
Special built for the coastal trade off the coast of South Africa.
During the Boer War she carried the mail from Durban to East London and Port Elizabeth.
During that time she had a reputation for not having missed a trip irrespective of the weather. At the same time, she was reputed to be most uncomfortable craft, rolling and pitching violently.
She transported Sir Winston Churchill from Durban to East London shortly after his escape from the Boers who had taken him prisoner of war near Chievely in Natal. During this trip the weather was awful and Churchill in one of his books stated “that my trip on the UMZIMVUBU to East London was the worst that I have ever experienced, as the beastly little boat rolled and pitched at the same time.
She was also used to carry equipment and stores to Port St. Johns to assist with hunting the GROSVENOR treasure. After the equipment was offloaded at Port St. Johns she were carted by ox wagon the 30 odd miles to the wreck site.
For several years she stayed on this service till she was bought for £5,000 by a new formed shipping company in Port St. Johns.
Reported as having paid for herself in five years, she was used extensively in 1907 to carry hides and skins when the East Coast Fever (Rinderpest) swept through the Eastern Cape and Transkei killing all the cattle and leaving their owners only the hides to sell.
1920 With on board a cargo of life pigs as deck cargo bound for Durban, under command of Captain Wahlgren she was refused to enter the port by the Port Captain due to the high seas breaking on the bar in the entrance of the port. She attempted to head again for open sea but due to the bad weather she drifted ashore during the night where the waves and tide dumped her above the high tide mark.
The captain was not sure as to what he had run aground on, so hung a hurricane lamp over the side. In the dim light of the lamp all he was able to see were rounded forms which he took for boulders. These turned out to be the cargo of 100 odd pigs which had swept overboard, and were now sheltering under the lee side of the stranded vessel.
Storm & Co was granted the first contract to refloat her, but after one month, without that the wreck was moving he gave up.
New tenders were called in, where after Charles Sydney Mayton and his father got the contract, and they succeeded to refloat the vessel.
During the grounding the UMZIMVUBU suffered extensive damage and it was decided to sell her to the British & South American Steamship Co, “Houston” Line in Cape Town.
Renamed in NAMAQUA and used in the service from Cape Town to Port Nolloth.
The end of her career was when she was used in the Shark Protection venture in Durban.
But when not more needed she was put on the sale list.
Not any buyer came forward and for some time she lingered around in Durban Bay.
Then it was decided to scuttle her, and towed outside by the tug Sir John Robinson she was scuttled in the waters next to hulks of four other vessels on Saturday 12 November 1932 off Durban.
Transkei 1986 20c sg181, scott?
Source: Watercraft Philately 1986/83/84.
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