The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has announced significant progress in the revitalisation of Proclaimed Fishing Harbours, marked by ongoing advancements in the removal of sunken and abandoned vessels, reports Cape {town} Etc.
This initiative, which spans across Lamberts Bay, St Helena Bay, Saldanha Bay, Hout Bay, and Gordon’s Bay, aims not only to enhance safety but also to create economic opportunities for local communities.
A total of 37 vessels have been identified in the targeted five harbour areas, comprising 17 abandoned and 20 sunken vessels. To date, six vessels have been attended to or removed by their owners at their own cost, leaving 31 remaining for removal.
The Department has ambitious plans to remove 17 vessels, the majority of which are small leisure boats at Hout Bay Harbour, with operations expected to conclude by the end of 2025.
Minister Dion George praised the commendable efforts thus far, affirming, ‘The successful progress in removing sunken and abandoned vessels across our Western Cape harbours is a testament to our dedication to ensuring safe and sustainable fishing harbours. These efforts not only mitigate environmental and navigational risks but also create opportunities for economic growth by freeing up valuable mooring space,’
Hout Bay Harbour, which hosts 25 identified vessels, has become the focal point of the salvage operations where two vessels, Edelweiss and African Unity, are currently being addressed.
The operation has faced challenges, including the discovery of an additional unidentified vessel beneath one wreck, leading to an extension in the expected timeline. Teams have successfully managed to pump water from the vessels and divers are actively sealing identified holes to prepare for their safe relocation.
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Looking forward, the removal of additional vessels in Hout Bay, including the likes of Merlin, Blue Boat, and Spes Nova, is scheduled for completion by the end of October 2025, while others such as Grant and another Spes Nova target December 2025.
Several abandoned vessels, including SA 4256 and C.Bull, are also under consideration for lifting operations by November 2025.
Further updates from other harbours reveal notable progress: in Gordon’s Bay, four vessels have been identified with one still to be addressed the sunken Dolphin which is set for removal under a diving school training programme.
Lamberts Bay has two vessels noted, while St Helena Bay and Saldanha Bay have both indicated two and four vessel removals respectively, pending directives from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The DFFE, in collaboration with SAMSA, remains steadfast in completing these operations under the Wreck and Salvage Act (Act No. 94 of 1996). As many as 90% of wrecks in Hout Bay Harbour are sunken and abandoned, necessitating swift action to tackle the environmental and safety hazards presented by these derelict vessels.
The ongoing removal is set to free up valuable mooring and berthing space, addressing numerous requests for access from the fishing industry and invigorating coastal economic activities.
As the DFFE gears up for further vessel removals in the coming months of November and December 2025, George expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved.
‘The collaborative efforts of our teams, SAMSA, and vessel owners are driving transformative change in our fishing harbours. We are committed to sustaining this momentum to ensure our harbours remain safe, functional, and economically vibrant,’ he stated.
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Also read:
Western Cape’s fishing harbours revitalisation shows encouraging progress
Picture: DFFE
