More than 140 ships have been wrecked and thousands of lives lost between Danger Point and Cape Infanta, to the east of Gansbaai. The troopship HMS "Birkenhead" was wrecked off Danger Point in 1852. A barely visible rock (now aptly named "Birkenhead Rock") from Danger Point, was fatal for the troopship carrying young Welsh and Scottish soldiers and their officers and family on their way to Eastern Cape to fight the Xhosa. The "Birkenhead" became famous because it was the first shipwreck where the "women and children first" protocol was applied. All women and children were saved but most of the men perished. There were only 193 survivors. In 1895, the Danger Point Lighthouse was built, providing more security for the ships in these dangerous waters.