Gqeberha and St Francis have both welcomed new rescue boats to their NSRI fleets, and a station revamp was unveiled in St Francis.
South Africa (06 May 2025) – It’s been a landmark season for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), as two major coastal communities, Gqeberha and St Francis Bay, welcomed powerful new vessels and upgraded facilities that will take lifesaving to the next level.
This incredible feat comes down to the support of the community, corporates, volunteers and rescue personnel.
The NSRI is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa. They strive to innovate, constantly evolve, and extend water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility.
Welcoming new vessels to the fleet is a major step towards evolving the rescue service. It gives teams greater access to life-saving equipment needed to combat the rough seas, save people on larger ships off-shore and get rescue swimmers out to people who need them. At the heart of it all is a blend of volunteer grit and world-class technology.
Gqeberha’s Bay Guardian, A Vessel Built for the Big Stuff
Station 6 in Gqeberha welcomed Bay Guardian, a 14.8-metre French-designed, locally-built rescue vessel capable of going 50 nautical miles offshore, making it the perfect vessel for deep sea rescues.
With room for 23 survivors and shock-mitigating seats for a six-person crew, this offshore rescue craft (ORC) is designed for extreme conditions. Since arriving in September 2024, she’s already notched up 49 training hours, 15 missions, and 14 lives assisted, including eight urgent medical evacuations.
But Bay Guardian carries more than just gear. Through the NSRI’s Celebrate a Life campaign, 739 names are etched into her side as a heartfelt tribute to loved ones and a fundraiser that brought in over R700,000 toward her build. Every launch is powered not just by horsepower but by legacy and love.
NSRI CEO Mike Vonk put it best: “Each name represents a story, a source of inspiration. Every time Bay Guardian launches, she carries those legacies and brings people safely home.”
“The blessing of Bay Guardian is about bringing together and recognising two core aspects of the NSRI: our volunteers, and the community we are here to serve. Our volunteers are at the very core of the NSRI — they set out in the most austere conditions to rescue people and animals. But they don’t exist in isolation. It’s the support of our community that makes their work possible.” – Mike Vonk, NSRI CEO
St Francis Bay: Next-Level Rescue Base, Two New Boats
Just down the coast in St Francis Bay, Station 21 has also entered a new era with the unveiling of a fully rebuilt station and two high-performance rescue vessels: Spirit of St Francis III and Spirit of ScottSam.
The upgraded base now includes an engineering marvel, a sealed boat lift system that elevates rescue craft into a protective boathouse, safe from sea spray and corrosion. It’s a first for the base and a major leap in durability and readiness.
“For many years, ensuring the safe storage of our rescue boats in this harbour has been challenging due to their direct exposure to the ocean,” said Graeme Harding, Head of NSRI Fleet and Facilities. “With the new station and entirely re-engineered lifting system, our vessels are now elevated into a sealed boathouse, fully shielded from the sea below — a first for this base.”
The 10.6-metre Spirit of St Francis III, fitted with twin 250hp engines, is tailor-made for tough offshore rescues. Meanwhile, Spirit of ScottSam, a JetRIB powered by a water jet, is optimised for inshore and surf rescues where swimmer safety is paramount.
“The Spirit of St Francis III is exceptionally well-suited to our region. Her speed, range, and protection enable us to respond more swiftly and safely in challenging sea conditions,” said Sara Jane Smith, NSRI Station Commander for St Francis Bay.
“The JetRIB has revolutionised inshore and surf rescue,” Smith added. “Its stability, manoeuvrability, and jet-drive design make it perfect for the dynamic and often unpredictable surf conditions we encounter here.”
And it’s not just the boats that got an upgrade. The new station now includes a crew training area, medical room, kitchen, and showers, all within the boathouse itself, making operations faster and more cohesive.
A Commitment to Community
These developments are part of the NSRI’s long-term fleet and facility upgrade strategy, ensuring that its all-weather search and rescue teams are equipped with the best tools to meet any emergency all the way from Richards Bay to Mykonos.
But it’s more than just technological advancement; there is a very real human side to the story: volunteers who train relentlessly, donors who give generously, and communities who rally together to make sure no one faces the sea alone.
As the NSRI continues to build forward, with more boats on the way for Hout Bay and Mykonos (in Langebaan), it’s clear that South Africa’s coastlines are safer, stronger, and more connected than ever.
You can find out more about the NSRI and how to support this vital work via the website here.
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