SS Piratiny

About SS Piratiny

The SS Piratiny was a 5,000-ton Brazilian cargo steamship that ran aground on the night of 12 May 1943 off the coast of Namaqualand, South Africa. Built in 1921 by Cantieri Navale Triestino, the vessel was caught in thick fog and forceful winds while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town. Location: The wreck is located near Kleinsee in the Northern Cape province. It is a featured stop on the Diamond Coast Shipwreck 4x4 Trail, which explores the rugged coastline between Koingnaas and Kleinzee. Status Today: The ship eventually broke in two. While parts of the rusted steel hull remain visible on the rocks and sand, the wreck is heavily corroded due to decades of exposure to the Atlantic's harsh surf.