1960 Admiralty Chart (No 577) of the Approaches to Durban

Admiralty Chart No. 577, Approaches to Durban, published at the Admiralty on 6 May 1960 and subsequently corrected in 1965 and 1966–1976, provides a precise depiction of the coastal waters off Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, from Umhlanga Rocks in the north to Isipingo in the south, including the entrance to Durban Bay (Port Natal). Based on mid-20th-century hydrographic surveys, it shows soundings in fathoms, extensive offshore depth contours, and a carefully defined dredged entrance channel marked by buoys, leading lines, and light characteristics from the Bluff Lighthouse. The chart incorporates notes on tides, currents, and the Agulhas Current, vital for navigation in this dynamic stretch of coast. Reflecting major harbour improvements of the 1950s, it documents deepened approaches and extended breakwaters that enabled Durban to serve larger merchant and passenger vessels. By this time Durban had become South Africa’s busiest port and principal Indian Ocean gateway, pivotal for trade and strategically significant in the post-war and Cold-War era. Admiralty Chart 577 thus captures the port at its mid-century zenith—modern, expanding, and central to both maritime commerce and naval operations on Africa’s east coast. 

This map is a reproduction of a historical map that is now in the public domain. It has been selected for its aesthetic appeal and historical interest and carefully restored and reproduced to preserve its original detail and character.  There may be marks and fold lines visible which add to the authentic look.  The map is printed on 230gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish.  Most old maps were printed on uncoated rag or wood pulp papers and therefore a matte finish best represents the original map.