‘We are sinking!’
‘W
hat is your position?’ ‘We’re somewhere between East London and Durban.’ ‘No, I mean your coordinates.’ ‘We don’t know.’ ‘What rank are you?’ ‘I don’t have rank. I’m a guitarist.’ ‘What are you doing on the bridge? Get me the captain. Who’s there with you?’ ‘Er, it’s me, my wife and a … magician.’
to side – more than one would obviously expect during a storm. From the entertainers’ dining hall, Moss could hear the sound of plates and trays being dropped by the waitstaff in the main dining area, something he’d never experienced before. Moss began to wonder whether they’d even be able to play and decided to check on their equipment. ‘Stuff was sliding around the stage.’ And then the lights went out. The entire ship was in darkness for a few throat-constricting moments
This interchange between entertainer Moss Hills and Captain Detmar from Nedlloyd Mauritius might sound scripted from a comedy, but the events unfolding on board the Oceanos on the night of 3 August 1991 were anything but funny. The cruise ship had left East London Harbour earlier that day en route to Durban. As she headed into the open ocean, weather conditions became increasingly foul. Traditionally, the entertainers would host a sail-away party on the deck, but the weather was so bad, they relocated to the Four Seasons Lounge. ‘The ship really comes alive at night,’ says Moss, ‘and there was a great vibe despite the weather.’ The plan was to wrap up their session, have dinner and get changed for the evening show. Around this time, the ship began heaving from side
before the dim emergency lighting came on. People began to spill out from the dining room and their cabins to gather in the Four Seasons, which was getting fuller. By this time Moss was joined by his wife,Tracy, and magicians Robin Boltman and Julian Russell. The group thought they’d entertain the passengers while waiting for an announcement from the captain. Then a loud rumbling noise drew everyone’s attention to a large window. A lifeboat was being lowered into the water. While Moss’s first thought was ‘don’t panic’, he knew they needed to find out what was going on. The ship was listing to starboard and everything that wasn’t fixed began sliding and collecting in one area of the room. Moss and Julian decided to investigate what was happening in the shaft
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SEA RESCUE SPRING 2021
PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF MOSS HILLS
It’s been 30 years since the dramatic events that led to the sinking of the Oceanos off the Wild Coast. Moss Hills recalls the events as if it were yesterday. By Wendy Maritz
