The Wreck of the Merenstein

This Dutch East Indiaman/ merchant ship was built in Amsterdam Holland in 1693. It had a passenger capacity of 315, The Merenstein set sail for the East after departing from Texel at the beginning of October 1701.  The vessel was heavily laden with a valuable consignment of silver specie for Batavia. The Merenstein’  tried to put into Saldanha Bay because of many of the sailors on board were suffering from scurvey.  There was an urgent need for fresh water and fresh vegetables. During the night On April 3 1702, she hit a reef at the Southwest point of Jutten Island and within a short time was smashed to pieces. Only 99 of the 200 people aboard survived. The men who survived did so by swimming to Jutten Island. However, there was no food and water on the small rocky island. The day after the event, two of the men set out on a raft made of broken timbers in search of help and fortunately, they were successful.

The ships Wezel and Amij were sent to save the crew and cargo. The ships even attempted to re-enact the way the Merestein entered the bay in order to find the site of the wreck to salvage some elements of the ship.

Immediate salvage plans were undertaken. But Jutten Island is a difficult dive. All attempts were abandoned. In the early 1970’s the wreck was rediscovered. Dutch silver Ducatoons from the 1600s were found. The number of coins was about 15,000 and is believed to be nowhere near all of the treasure that was lost.