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National Sea Rescue Institute

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National Sea Rescue Institute
AbbreviationNSRI
Formation1967; 57 years ago (1967)[1]
TypeNon-profit organisation
PurposeSearch and rescue
Headquarters4 Longclaw Drive, Milnerton , Cape Town
Location
Region served
Southern Africa
CEO
Dr Cleeve Robertson
Budget
Donations, bequests and sponsorships cover the annual running costs. Use of volunteers avoids a salary bill around R0.5m per annum.
Revenue (2021)
R174 million
Staff
  • 1 455 unpaid volunteers
  • 125 paid lifeguards (during summer)
Websitehttps://www.nsri.org.za/

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a voluntary non-profit organisation in South Africa tasked with saving lives through drowning prevention. It operates 49 bases (as of November 2023) comprising coastal stations, inland stations on dams, auxiliary stations and lifeguard units. There are crews on standby at all hours. There are over 1000 volunteers equipped with sponsored rescue craft, rescue vehicles, quad bikes and tractors, supported by an operations department at the head office.[2]

The NSRI works closely with other Search and Rescue organisations (22 Squadron SAAF, South African Police Service and South African Maritime Safety Authority) in South Africa.

History

[edit]

Following an incident at Stilbaai near Mossel Bay on the south coast of South Africa in 1966, in which 17 fishermen drowned after three fishing boats sank in a storm, Miss Pattie Price of Simon’s Town whose own life had been saved by a RNLI lifeboat in the English Channel, wrote a series of letters to the newspapers to advocate for the formation of a sea rescue organisation in South Africa.

Captain Bob Deacon and Ray Lant were the first volunteers to respond to this call and in 1967 the South African Inshore Rescue Service (SAISRS) was started, with a 4.7m inflatable boat donated by the Society of Master Mariners. The SAISRS was later renamed to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and continues the tradition of operation by volunteers.[3]

List of NSRI Stations

[edit]
Kleinmond slipway with NSRI station 42 tractor and boat trailer
Kleinmond slipway and jetty seaward side. NSRI station 42 boat alongside
NSRI station 23 RIB on trailer
Station name Station number Coordinates[4] Notes
Bakoven 2 33°57′38″S 18°22′23″E / 33.96056°S 18.37306°E / -33.96056; 18.37306 Coastal
Table Bay 3 33°54′20″S 18°25′14″E / 33.90556°S 18.42056°E / -33.90556; 18.42056 Coastal
Mykonos 4 33°02′50″S 18°02′23″E / 33.04722°S 18.03972°E / -33.04722; 18.03972 Coastal
Durban 5 29°52′26″S 31°03′03″E / 29.87389°S 31.05083°E / -29.87389; 31.05083 Coastal
Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha 6 33°58′03″S 25°38′01″E / 33.96750°S 25.63361°E / -33.96750; 25.63361 Coastal
East London 7 33°01′23″S 27°53′29″E / 33.02306°S 27.89139°E / -33.02306; 27.89139 Coastal
Hout Bay 8 34°03′01″S 18°20′43″E / 34.05028°S 18.34528°E / -34.05028; 18.34528 Coastal
Gordon's Bay 9 34°09′52″S 18°51′35″E / 34.16444°S 18.85972°E / -34.16444; 18.85972 Coastal
Simon's Town 10 34°11′32″S 18°26′04″E / 34.19222°S 18.43444°E / -34.19222; 18.43444 Coastal
Port Alfred 11 33°35′42″S 26°53′27″E / 33.59500°S 26.89083°E / -33.59500; 26.89083 Coastal
Knysna 12 34°04′34″S 23°03′37″E / 34.07611°S 23.06028°E / -34.07611; 23.06028 Coastal
Plettenberg Bay 14 34°03′30″S 23°22′41″E / 34.05833°S 23.37806°E / -34.05833; 23.37806 Coastal
Mossel Bay 15 34°10′50″S 22°08′56″E / 34.18056°S 22.14889°E / -34.18056; 22.14889 Coastal
Strandfontein 16 34°04′40″S 18°34′23″E / 34.07778°S 18.57306°E / -34.07778; 18.57306 Coastal
Hermanus 17 34°26′00″S 19°13′31″E / 34.43333°S 19.22528°E / -34.43333; 19.22528 Coastal
Melkbosstrand 18 33°43′44″S 18°26′18″E / 33.72889°S 18.43833°E / -33.72889; 18.43833 Coastal
Richards Bay 19 28°47′30″S 32°05′01″E / 28.79167°S 32.08361°E / -28.79167; 32.08361 Coastal
Shelly Beach 20 30°48′31″S 30°24′44″E / 30.808517°S 30.412217°E / -30.808517; 30.412217 Coastal
St Francis Bay 21 34°11′04″S 24°51′08″E / 34.184333°S 24.8523°E / -34.184333; 24.8523 Coastal
Vaal Dam 22 26°53′45″S 28°06′48″E / 26.895867°S 28.113433°E / -26.895867; 28.113433 Inland
Wilderness 23 33°59′43″S 22°34′50″E / 33.9952°S 22.580567°E / -33.9952; 22.580567 Coastal
Lambert's Bay 24 32°05′26″S 18°18′01″E / 32.09056°S 18.30028°E / -32.09056; 18.30028 Coastal
Hartebeespoort Dam 25 25°43′49″S 27°51′38″E / 25.730167°S 27.86045°E / -25.730167; 27.86045 Inland
Kommetjie 26 34°08′27″S 18°19′44″E / 34.140833°S 18.328833°E / -34.140833; 18.328833 Coastal
Gauteng 27 26°16′15″S 28°06′44″E / 26.270759°S 28.112268°E / -26.270759; 28.112268 Inland
Port St Johns 28 31°31′48″S 29°27′52″E / 31.530022°S 29.4643592°E / -31.530022; 29.4643592 Coastal
Air Sea Rescue 29 33°54′25″S 18°29′31″E / 33.90694°S 18.49194°E / -33.90694; 18.49194 Coastal
Agulhas 30 34°47′55″S 20°03′34″E / 34.798567°S 20.059433°E / -34.798567; 20.059433 Coastal
Still Bay 31 34°23′09″S 21°25′26″E / 34.385733°S 21.423917°E / -34.385733; 21.423917 Coastal
Port Edward 32 31°02′54″S 30°13′52″E / 31.048217°S 30.231167°E / -31.048217; 30.231167 Coastal
Witsand 33 34°23′29″S 20°50′16″E / 34.391333°S 20.837833°E / -34.391333; 20.837833 Coastal
Yzerfontein 34 33°20′46″S 18°08′59″E / 33.34611°S 18.14972°E / -33.34611; 18.14972 Coastal
Witbank Dam 35 25°54′33″S 29°18′31″E / 25.9093°S 29.308733°E / -25.9093; 29.308733 Inland
Oyster Bay 36 34°10′11″S 24°39′12″E / 34.169673°S 24.653434°E / -34.169673; 24.653434 Coastal
Jeffrey's Bay 37 34°02′54″S 24°55′24″E / 34.048333°S 24.923333°E / -34.048333; 24.923333 Coastal
Theewaterskloof 38 34°10′34″S 19°15′45″E / 34.176°S 19.262533°E / -34.176; 19.262533 Inland
Rocky Bay 39 30°20′03″S 30°44′02″E / 30.334283°S 30.733833°E / -30.334283; 30.733833 Coastal
St Lucia 40 28°22′36″S 32°24′49″E / 28.37667°S 32.41361°E / -28.37667; 32.41361 Coastal
Ballito 41 29°26′15″S 31°13′21″E / 29.437578°S 31.222571°E / -29.437578; 31.222571 Coastal
Kleinmond 42 34°20′07″S 19°00′45″E / 34.335399°S 19.012628°E / -34.335399; 19.012628 Coastal
Port Nolloth 43 29°14′18″S 16°55′44″E / 29.23833°S 16.92889°E / -29.23833; 16.92889 Coastal
St Helena 44 32°44′52″S 18°00′31″E / 32.74778°S 18.00861°E / -32.74778; 18.00861 Coastal
Strandfontein (Matzikama) 45 31°27′05″S 18°08′00″E / 31.45139°S 18.13333°E / -31.45139; 18.13333 Coastal
Storms River 46 34°01′22″S 23°53′55″E / 34.02278°S 23.89861°E / -34.02278; 23.89861 Coastal, Auxiliary
Kei Mouth 47 32°24′47″S 28°13′20″E / 32.41306°S 28.22222°E / -32.41306; 28.22222 Coastal, Auxiliary
Mdumbi 49 31°33′43″S 29°07′31″E / 31.56194°S 29.12528°E / -31.56194; 29.12528 Coastal, Lifeguards
Umhlange 50 29°43′33″S 31°05′16″E / 29.72583°S 31.08778°E / -29.72583; 31.08778 Coastal

Rescue craft

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The NSRI has used a wide range of rescue vessels and types of rescue vessel over the years.

  • JetRIB, Four-stroke Yamaha VX1050 Jet Ski with an extension hull and Hypalon pontoons.
  • RL 36, 9m deep V, Cold moulded wood:
    • Pearl van Riet, Station 9
  • Brede class: (RNLI design)
    • Spirit of Safmarine. Station 10,

Offshore Rescue Craft class

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NSRI Station 10's new offshore rescue craft in April 2021 off Miller's Point

The first vessel of the offshore rescue craft (ORC) class vessel was procured from a French boatyard in 2019 and stationed at Durban. The vessel has a 14.8m long composite hull with a 4.8 m beam, and is suitable for search and rescue operations up to 50 nautical miles offshore.[5] The second vessel of the class was finished from an imported set of mouldings and delivered to Station 10 (Simon's Town) from Two Oceans Marine in Cape Town in April 2021. It will be kept ready to launch at a few minutes notice on a cradle in the boathouse.

The rest of the series will be manufactured in Cape Town under license using moulds taken off the second boat's mouldings. The vessel is longitudinally subdivided into forepeak, forward accommodation for survivors, tank space with heads, engine room and steering flat. The superstructure is on the main deck and comprises a watertight wheelhouse, which provides a high centre of buoyancy for self-righting, and has a raised exterior steering position on the port side. The transom has a ladder for boarding from the water and two small platforms just above the waterline. There is a substantial towing bollard on the quarterdeck and a gap in the stern rail at the top of the ladder which also serves as a fairlead for towing lines. The crew seating includes safety belts and shock absorber mountings to mitigate vertical acceleration shock loads.

A track with sliding cars runs around the wheelhouse just below the handrail, providing secure but mobile harness clip-off points for crew working on or traversing the side decks. The handrails on the foredeck and side decks are inset to avoid damage when alongside large vessels in a seaway. There is a small but sturdy davit on the port side suitable for hoisting survivors on board, in clear view of the exterior control point.

Structure is fibre reinforced plastic composite, partly foam cored and partly solid skin with foam cored frames. Structural glass fibres are used for most of the layup, with carbon fibre stiffening where most effective. High density core material is used in heavily loaded components such as engine beds.

Specifications

[edit]

Specifications:[5]

  • Designation ORC 140.RS
  • Survivor capacity: 23/24 persons.(sources vary)
  • Crew 6 [clarification needed]
  • Expected lifespan: 40 years.
  • Self righting by inherent stability when intact
  • Original vessel manufacture: France
  • Series manufacturer: Two Oceans Marine (Cape Town)
  • Cost per vessel: R20 million
  • Series cost: R180 million
  • Maximum speed of about 28 knots with crew, equipment and full tanks
  • Range of 250 nautical miles at 20 knots cruising speed with 25% reserve.
  • Length overall 14.8 m
  • Moulded length 13.85 m
  • Waterline length 13.56 m
  • Beam overall 4.8 m
  • Beam moulded 4.6 m
  • Depth 2.08 m
  • Draught (loaded) 1.4 m
  • Displacement (light) 15 900kg according to the stability book
  • Displacement (loaded)
  • Fuel capacity 2 tanks of 1000 litres each
  • Engines: 2 x Cummins QSC 8.3M marine diesels producing 441 kW at ????rpm
  • Gearboxes: ZF 370 V, a 10° V-drive, remote mount marine transmission.[6]
  • Propellers, rudders and shafts CJR [clarification needed]
  • Towing bollard rated for 4.5 tonne
  • Vessel sound level 76 dB [clarification needed]

Names and stations:

  • 14-01, Station 5, Durban
  • 14-02, "Donna Nicholas", Station 10, Simon's Town, April 2021
  • 14-03,
[edit]
External views of the vessel
  • Profile from port
    Profile from port
  • Bow
    Bow
  • Stern
    Stern
  • Port bow
    Port bow
The upper deck
  • View from port quarter
    View from port quarter
  • Quarterdeck railings
    Quarterdeck railings
  • Towing gear
    Towing gear
  • Flying bridge
    Flying bridge
  • Superstructure from aft
    Superstructure from aft
  • View forward from flying bridge
    View forward from flying bridge
Deck fittings
  • Davit
    Davit
  • Engine room soft patch
    Engine room soft patch
  • Handrail and jackstay track with car
    Handrail and jackstay track with car
  • Anchor gear and pulpit rail
    Anchor gear and pulpit rail
  • Liferaft and forward escape hatch
    Liferaft and forward escape hatch
  • Engine freshwater flush connection
    Engine freshwater flush connection
Wheelhouse interior
  • Helmsman's seat
    Helmsman's seat
  • Navigation table
    Navigation table
  • Wheelhouse exterior watertight door
    Wheelhouse exterior watertight door
  • Port side seating
    Port side seating
  • Crew seat detail
    Crew seat detail
  • Navigators instrument panel
    Navigators instrument panel
Passenger accommodation
  • Forepeak and anchor locker access
    Forepeak and anchor locker access
  • Survivor seating port side
    Survivor seating port side
  • Galley area and companionway ladder starboard forward
    Galley area and companionway ladder starboard forward
  • Seating and watertight door starboard aft
    Seating and watertight door starboard aft
  • Companionway ladder and doorway starboard
    Companionway ladder and doorway starboard
  • Deckhead escape hatch with drop-down ladder looking aft
    Deckhead escape hatch with drop-down ladder looking aft
Tank space
  • Starboard tank space
    Starboard tank space
  • Heads in port tank space
    Heads in port tank space
  • Port tank space
    Port tank space
Engine Room
  • View from forward watertight door
    View from forward watertight door
  • Starboard engine and gearbox
    Starboard engine and gearbox
  • Port engine and gearbox
    Port engine and gearbox
  • Port engine aft
    Port engine aft
  • Starboard exhaust
    Starboard exhaust
Steering flat
  • Port steering ram, tiller, rudder stock and link bar
    Port steering ram, tiller, rudder stock and link bar
  • Electro-hydraulic steering motor
    Electro-hydraulic steering motor
  • Emergency tiller stowed against transom, emergency exit above
    Emergency tiller stowed against transom, emergency exit above

Pink Bouy initiative

[edit]
An NSRI Pink Buoy at a beach with its post and signage.

As part of the NSRI's Drowning Prevention program, starting in 2017, the NSRI started placing Pink Rescue torpedo buoys in strategic locations including inland rivers, dams, and beaches.

Not only are they used for rescues when lifeguards are not around, but they act as a reminder to be careful when you are in the water if there are no lifeguards around.

See also

[edit]

Similar organisations around the world:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Our History". NSRI. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  2. ^ "NSRI Integrated Annual Report 2021" (PDF).
  3. ^ "History". www.nsri.org.za. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Rescue base finder". www.nsri.org.za. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b "NSRI's ORC project is taking shape". Sea Rescue. Cape Town, South Africa: National Sea Rescue Institute. Summer 2020. pp. 28 to 29.
  6. ^ "Marine Propulsion Systems ZF 370 V" (PDF). www.performancediesel.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
[edit]
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