Natal Maritime Museum

Description

The Natal Maritime Museum at the Durban Waterfront tells Kwa-Zulu Natal’s naval history through photographs and notable displays. The museum does well to remind us that Durban was and still is the busiest port in Africa. With numerous seafaring traditions on display the museum illustrates Durban’s naval tradition at its best. A tour of the museum is very educational, and is great fun for old and young alike.

It has 3 ships for its young guests where they can scurry around and learn a bit about the maritime history and culture. The Ulundi is a 75-year old vessel with a coal-fired engine, is the oldest of the three. The JR More has an oil-burning engine which is 38 years old. It was a tugboat at the harbour but was also used in the salvage operations in the open seas. Though not that old, the SAS Durban is the largest ship on display. It is a 42 year old minesweeper.

One of the highlights of the museum is Britannia Exhibition hall which offers a fantastic nautical experience. The museum also houses a fascinating collection of weather predicting equipment, as well as communication and navigation equipment.