About The King Cenric
The King Cenric was a 1,519-ton wooden Norwegian sailing ship, built in Canada in 1874, that ran aground at Diaz Beach in Mossel Bay during a severe south-east gale on 14 November 1903. The vessel was transporting a cargo of Baltic timber from Frederikstad, Norway, when the storm's intensity caused both of its anchor cables to part, forcing the ship ashore alongside several other vessels. All 22 individuals on board, including Captain A. Paulsen, his wife, their child, and 19 crew members, were safely rescued using a shore-based rocket apparatus.
Today, the remains of the hull are typically buried beneath the sand, but shifting tides and major winter storms occasionally expose the timber and steel structure. Because the wreck is well over 60 years old, it is legally protected as a heritage resource under South African law, meaning the unauthorized disturbance, defacing, or removal of any wreckage from the site is strictly prohibited by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and local authorities.
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