SS Piratiny Shipwreck

About SS Piratiny Shipwreck

The SS Piratiny was a 5,000-ton Brazilian steel cargo steamship that ran aground on 12 May 1943 at Schulp Point, located approximately 58 kilometers south-southeast of Kleinsee along South Africa's Diamond Coast. Built in 1921, the vessel was traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town when severe winter weather and engine failure drove it onto the rocks. The entire crew safely escaped in lifeboats, but heavy ocean swells subsequently broke the ship apart, scattering its cargo of shoes, textiles, and tinned goods onto the shoreline.

Today, the heavily oxidized, rusted iron hull remains visible just meters from the shore, serving as a primary historical landmark on the guided Diamond Coast Shipwreck 4x4 Trail between Koingnaas and Kleinsee.

Because the wreck is situated within a restricted coastal area historically managed for diamond mining, independent access to the site is strictly prohibited. Prospective visitors must arrange a permitted guided tour and submit personal details at least five days in advance to clear the mandatory security screening required to enter the region.