Case Decision - 200300

The remains of a possible historic shipwreck have been found in Walker Bay, Hermanus, Western Cape. A pre-disturbance survey permit was applied for in June 2020 with the aim of defining the boundaries of the site and thereafter to map the site. The aim was to monitor and protect the site in order to promote it as a heritage dive site. The permit was granted by SAHRA in June 2020, however site work was limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The applicant renewed the permit in December 2021 and undertook further survey work including taking photos of the site features and a basic site map. The results of the work have been provided in the permit report which was produced by maritime archaeologist Vanessa Maitland who is an advisor to the permit holder. 
The permit holder aims to undertake a targeted magnetometer survey and continue to survey and map the site. The surveys will be undertaken within a 400m radius from the co-ordinates provided as the centre of the wreck site provided in the site record on SAHRIS. 
The Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) unit at the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has on 26 September 2023 taken the decision to approve the application for a permit renewal to undertake a pre-disturbance survey for an unknown wreck in Hermanus. This is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the attached permit, ID: 4254. The terms and conditions in the attached permit must be adhered to at all times. You are reminded that you must adhere to the provisions of SAHRA’s Wreck Resources Permit Policy at all times, and that the approval of this pre-disturbance survey permit does not create a right or legitimate expectation to be issued a subsequent excavation, test excavation, sampling, export, or conservation permit for any wreck resource(s). 
We wish you every success in this endeavour.