Durban History MuseumDurban Local History Museums

Port Natal Maritime Museum

Set at the Bay end of Samora Machel Street, next to the BAT Centre in Durban's harbour precinct, the Port Natal Maritime Museum was established in the early 1980s to give visitors a glimpse into the city's rich and colourful seafaring heritage.

Historic tugs moored at the Port Natal Maritime Museum on Durban harbour
Historic tugs moored at the Port Natal Maritime Museum.Photo: Darren Glanville from Acle, Norfolk, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

About the museum

The museum serves as a tribute to Durban's significance as Africa's busiest port, documenting maritime heritage spanning over a century. A historic harpoon gun manufactured by Norwegian weapons company Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk marks the entrance, representing the whaling industry's former presence.

Exhibitions

The museum features moored vessels available for visitor exploration, including the Ulundi (South Africa's oldest surviving pilot tug, operational since 1927), the steam tug JR More, the minesweeper SAS Durban, and the NCS Challenger — the 5.8-metre yacht sailed by Anthony Steward on his record-breaking 22,890-nautical-mile voyage around the world in an open boat, beginning in 1991.

The grey minesweeper SAS Durban moored at the Port Natal Maritime Museum
The minesweeper SAS Durban, moored at the museum.Photo: Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

Amenities

Outdoor seating beneath blue umbrellas overlooks the harbour, where cool drinks and light refreshments are available. A volunteer group, the Friends of the Port Natal Maritime Museum, supports ongoing restoration efforts.

The harbour's longer history is told on Our History.

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