Umvolosi British steamer of 1,775 tons built in 1889 by J. Laing Sunderland, owned by Bullard King & Co and commanded by Captain H Clarke.

Wrecked 300m east of Kleinemonde River mouth on 12 April 1890 while on a voyage to Natal with cargo of 6 railway coaches, sleepers and mining machinery.

The crew & 2 passengers were safely landed.

She traded between London & Natal.

Voyage at the time: From (London via) the Cape towards Natal, carrying railway coaches, sleepers and mining machinery.

Date and place of loss: Grounded on 12 April 1890, about 300 m east of the Kleinemonde (Kleinemonde/Kowie) River mouth, on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa, near Port Alfred.

She struck a submerged rock, usually identified as one of the “Three Sisters” rocks off that coast.

To avoid foundering in deeper water, she was deliberately run ashore, where she became a total wreck and was never refloated.

Casualties: Contemporary/secondary sources agree that the entire crew and the two passengers were brought ashore safely—no loss of life.