The wreck of the Brederode
This was a Dutch East India Company vessel that was lost in 1785. off the South African coast on its homeward from Batavia and China It was carrying valuable cargo consisting of tea, and fabrics from the East. The ship was believed to also have had a large cargo of tin and gold.
In June of 1998, 213 years after The Brederode. sank, a local diver found it in 65m of water near Struis Bay. He found an iron cannon, a bronze cannon, and a huge anchor. There were boxes of beautiful porcelain crockery that were still packed in crates. To confirm the discovery, he identified the ship’s bell.
The value of the cargo was then estimated at over R120 million. The diver died before he was able to recover the treasure. Also, his permit expired soon after he located the wreck and unfortunately, permits are no longer granted.
