The stranding of the
Seawin Sapphire
& Weskus 1

Day 2
1st August 2008

The Seawin Sapphire and Weskus 1 a day after running aground

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Seawin Sapphire being pounded by the waves

Seawin Sapphire at the mercy of the waves

Weskus 1 being pushed ashore by the waves

A fully equipped Weskus 1 taking a hammering in the surf

Waves breaking over the Weskus 1

Seawin Sapphire being driven ashore by the waves

Weskus 1 with all her equipment still on deck

Closeup of deck equipment of the Weskus 1

Day 7
6th August 2008

Workmen on board Seawin Sapphire securing the equipment on board ship

Bunker oil being pumped off the ship

All's quiet before another storm arrives

Weskus 1 with decks cleared of equipment

Day 12
11th August 2008

After another beating the Weskus 1 has turned over onto her other side.The sun appears to be setting on this ship?

Day 16
15th August 2008

Another storm arrived and beat the Weskus 1 to smithereens All that is left of her are parts of her hull and the cabin in the waves.

Some more bits and pieces of Weskus 1 being readied for removal

Seawin Sapphire still intact after surviving the storm that destroyed the Weskus 1

Day 21
20th August 2008

Salvors have finally arrived and are setting up their equipment to salvage
the Seawin Sapphire that lies hidden in the mist in the background

Cables have been attached to the ship and she is ready to be turned

The ship is starting to turn

After an hour of pulling and digging the ship has turned and is nearly facing the right direction to be pulled up onto the beach

At last she is facing the right direction and is ready to be hauled up onto the beach

Day 23
22nd August 2008

Seawin Sapphire inching her way up the beach

Even closer to her destination, the carpark

Day 26
25th August 2008

After a weekend of hard work the Seawin Sapphire is loaded and ready to roll

Closeup of trailer with 88 wheels. Note how the ship has been welded to the trailer with I bars

Day 27
26th August 2008

Finally on her way !
The Seawin Sapphire rolling through the streets of Melkbosstrand

Causing traffic jams on the R27 near Table View

The 90 degree intersection into Blouberg road that she has to negotiate

Negotiating the bend into Blouberg Road

After a quick visit to Mac Donalds to celebrate her release from the sand the Seawin Sapphire goes on her way

After spending nearly eight hours on the road the Seawin Sapphire completed her trip to the Table Bay harbour where she will be repaired and refloated over the next couple of months. My congratulations to all involved in the salvage operation. After nearly a month on the Table Bay coastline the beaches are as pristine as they were when the ships ran aground.

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