Name: Sister ship SAS Somerset moored at the V&A waterfront The "SAS Fleur" was a ‘Bar’ class boom defence vessel, formerly HMS Barbrake, The SAS Somerset is a sister vessel to the Fleur and is moored at the V&A waterfront in Cape Town as a museum vessel. At present (July 2017) it is closed to the public. The Fleur was scuttled on 5th April 1966, south of Seal Island. Specifications: Displacement of 750 tonnes Length overall 53 m Beam 10 m Draft 3 m Depth: Maximum depth on the sand is 41 m, The main deck is at about 35 m and the top of the superstructure at about 33 m. Marine life: The wreck is heavily encrusted on the deck by mussels and all over by an astonishing number of strawberry anemones in pink, orange and nearly white. There are also fairly large numbers of Cape urchins, Sinuous and Multicoloured sea fans, some small barnacles, bushy hydroids, and occasional bryozoans. The interior is home to large numbers of White Seacatfish. Kingklip may also be seen. If you are visited by seals at the safety stop it is considered lucky, as it is then presumed less likely for sharks to be nearby. Photography: Good site for photography if visibility is good. There are opportunities for some interesting wide-angle shots showing the collapsing structure, but only if the light is sufficient. The subjects for close-up and macro work are limited. Topography Flat sand bottom with shell fragments and small detritus concentrated near the wreckage. The wreck lies almost level, embedded in the bottom as if floating in the sand, with the bow to the south and the centreline on estimated 178° magnetic with the bow to the south. Hull structure is badly rusted and plating has gone from large sections of deck and sides of the hull. Most of the superstructure is gone and there has been noticeable deterioration over the last few years. Much of the hull collapsed in 2009. The bow gantry and a few metres of the bow have broken off and subsided, but are still there and easily recognisable.