I was near the beach at Umkomaas on August 11, 1974 when the tanker Produce ran onto the Aliwal Shawl. As the ship listed and began to sink, I watched the rescue efforts of an SAAF helicopter and two ski boats plucking members of the crew from the surf who had jumped overboard from the doomed Norwegian vessel. In the distance, and taking on rescued crew members from the sinking Produce, was a white cargo freighter also assisting in the rescue efforts. Through binoculars, I could see people and crew on her decks waiting and helping those already on board. Rope ladders were dangling down the side of the ship. As I squinted through my binoculars, her name suddenly came into view, and it's one I wont easily forget: SA Oranjeland. I recall her distinctive orange, white and blue colors on her funnel indicating that she was a Safmarine freighter.

About three hours or so later, the Oranjeland left the scene with her unexpected passengers and headed southwards, even though Durban was not far away to the north, something I found rather odd at the time...

Two days later, things were to become even stranger. While listening to the news in the car, I heard that another ship had gone aground, this time off East London. But when I heard the ship's name being mentioned, I could hardly believe my ears: SA Oranjeland! The very ship I had seen in the rough surf two days before off Umkomaas, was now herself a victim of the sea! The real irony in this tale is that the Oranjeland was not meant to stop off in East London, but had only done so to drop off the crew of the Produce...

And there she remained for over a year, battered by constant swells and one failed salvage attempt after another. I did get to view her again in late 1975, but by then her back was broken and her hull was submerged. Shortly thereafter, the decision was taken to cut her up as she posed a hazard to shipping.

Great shot & lovely appearance of the Stuelcken HLD!

Funnei colours painted out after she was declared CTL

I guess that the SAF marine logo on a stranded ship in 1974 was not very much in line with the government propaganda at that time.

I missed the blue ,white and orange stripes in the funnel,another photo shows with that stripes,can you explain that???