Cape Town, South Africa Passenger Lists 1911-1955

Cape Town Docks - View From End of Breakwater - 1907. GGA Image ID # 175886fb9e

Cape Town is the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape in South Africa. The city is famous for its harbor, natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, and well-known landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Today it is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.

Cape Town Harbor

View of Cape Town Harbor. The Syren and Shipping, 4 January 1905. GGA Image ID # 1d3fc32da0

The metropolis of South Africa is fortunate in possession of a harbor commensurate with the retirements of the volume of trade and the floating tonnage passing through or touching thereat.

Massive is the only word to apply to the tonnage, while the variety of merchandise handled at Cape Town's docks is probably unique, like the infinite mixture of colors in its urban streets. The inception of the present harbor works dates back to 1860 when Sir John Coode recommended that a breakwater (now 3,600 ft. long) should be run out into Table Bay.

Under the shelter of that breakwater, two dock basins have been constructed of eight and sixty-four acres, the depth of all the outer quays being from 28 ft. to 30 ft.

Until recently, the equipment of the Cape Town docks was insufficient, and the storage accommodation, except on the South Arm, was poor and meager.

Early in 1900, the Harbor Commissioners recognized this fact and determined to mend matters, and, Parliament having voted the necessary funds, immediate steps were taken to supply every deep water quay in the port with the most approved electrical cranes; to remove the old warehouses, to construct others of modern design; and to re-arrange the lines of rails, so that it would be possible on every wharf to load directly from ships into railway trucks.

Although not yet completed, these improvements have been largely carried out, and it is hoped in the course of another year. Cape Town may, in every respect, claim to be a thoroughly up-to-date port.

Passenger Lists available from the GG Archives Calling at the Port of Capetown, South Africa.

1910s

The Union-Castle Line

• 1911-07-15 RMS Walmer Castle - Southampton for Cape Town

1920s

The Aberdeen Line

• 1925-08-13 TSS Sophocles - London to Sydney
• 1926-01-16 TSS Demosthenes - Melbourne to Southampton

The Union-Castle Line

• 1920-11-19 RMS Armadale Castle - Southampton to Natal
• 1927-11-04 R.M.M.V. Carnarvon Castle - Southampton to Cape Town
• 1929-11-29 RMS Walmer Castle - Cape Town to Southampton

1930s

The Union-Castle Line

• 1939-07-13 RMMV Stirling Castle - Southampton to Durban
• 1939-07-14 RMS Windsor Castle - Cape Town to London

1940s

The Union-Castle Line

• 1949-04-21 R.M.M.V. Capetown Castle - Southampton to Durban
• 1949-12-15 RMS Warwick Castle - Southampton to Durban

1950s

The Union-Castle Line

• 1950-03-31 RMS Edinburgh Castle - Capetown to Southampton
• 1954-12-09 R.M.M.V. Winchester Castle - Southampton to Durban
• 1955-06-17 RMS Edinburgh Castle - Cape Town to London

Note: Typically, only the origination and final destination ports are listed in each link. Other intermediary ports of call are not listed.

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