NSRI

22/10/2026

A Week of Life-Saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across South Africa, from our coastlines to inland waters.
Here’s a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that reflect their courage, skill, and unwavering commitment to saving lives. To read more incredible stories from the world of the NSRI, visit our news page here: https://www.nsri.org.za/news-stories

22/10/2026

After nearly two decades in the NSRI fleet, the *Spirit of Vodacom* has a new home.

Following a four-month refurbishment in Cape Town, the vessel has made the journey to Station 15 Mossel Bay, where she will now serve as Rescue 15.

With greater range and endurance, her arrival strengthens the station’s ability to respond to incidents along the coastline and further offshore.

After 19 years of answering the call, this is the beginning of her next chapter.

Read the full story of Rescue 15’s journey to Mossel Bay: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/a-new-chapter-for-the-spirit-of-vodacom-rescue-vessel/

21/10/2026

At 14h29, Monday, 19 October, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for a maritime medical evacuation operation for 3 male seafarers injured on board a 292-meter bulk carrier motor vessel at anchorage offshore of Richards Bay.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-richards-bay-wednesday-21-october-a-maritime-medical-evacuation-operation-of-2-injured-seafarers/

21/10/2026

🗳️ Our Witbank Dam crew needs your vote!

Volunteer crew at NSRI Station 35 Witbank Dam have been named one of 10 finalists for the People’s Choice Award at the International Maritime Rescue Federation Awards 2026. They are the only South African finalists this year.

The nomination recognises a demanding night rescue. The crew travelled 140 km to reach four people trapped at the edge of the 40-metre Grootdraai Dam spillway. In the dark, in strong winds and fast-flowing water, they adapted as conditions changed and brought all four people to safety.

They now stand alongside nominees from seven countries, including the RNLI, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, Coastguard New Zealand, Marine Rescue NSW and China’s Beihai No.1 Rescue Flying Team.

This award isn’t decided by judges. It’s decided by you. 💙

👉 Vote here (it takes less than 20 seconds): surveymonkey.com/r/2026PCAward

Voting closes at midnight on 30 October 2026, and the winner will be announced on 25 November at the IMRF Conference in Saint-Malo, France.

Please vote, share this post and help us show the world what our volunteers do.

20/10/2026

A 48-year-old man from Belgium is expected to be discharged from hospital today after a non-fatal drowning incident at a remote beach between Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay on Monday afternoon. The man, on a cycling holiday with his family, is believed to have been caught in rip currents while swimming.

A 48-year-old man from Belgium is expected to be discharged from hospital today after a non-fatal drowning incident at a remote beach between…

20/10/2026

On Saturday morning, NSRI Port Nolloth volunteers on a routine training exercise responded when a local mining vessel raised concern for three of her crew who had gone ashore on their RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) and had not been heard from. All three were found safe in the harbour.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/mining-vessel-crew-assisted-after-rhib-loses-motor-power/

20/10/2026

55 years of service. Two remarkable NSRI journeys.

In 1971, Pat van Eyssen and Ian Hamilton began their journeys with the NSRI.

Pat was 19 when he joined after being invited to a training session. Ian helped establish what would become Station 15 Mossel Bay, despite having little experience with boats or the sea.

Five and a half decades later, both have seen the NSRI grow from an organisation working with limited resources into a world leader in search and rescue.

Along the way, there have been difficult rescues, lives saved and countless moments that have stayed with them. But for both Pat and Ian, it has always come back to the people and the difference volunteers can make.

55 years on, their commitment remains an extraordinary example of what it means to volunteer.

Read their stories and discover just how far the NSRI has come: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/pat-van-eyssen-and-ian-hamilton-celebrate-55-years-of-service/

19/10/2026

NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from a group of hikers reporting that a female in their group was suffering an injury and unable to continue on the walk.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/injured-hiker-rescued-from-robberg-nature-reserve-by-nsri-plettenberg-bay/

19/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-richards-bay-monday-19-october-a-man-is-missing/

NSRI – Richards Bay – Monday, 19 October. A man is missing:


Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

At 17h33, Sunday, 18 October, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Main Beach, Alkanstrand, Richards Bay.

Reports indicated 2 persons appearing to be in distress in the surf zone, caught in rip currents.

NSRI rescue swimmers, our NSRI rescue vehicle, the SA Police Service, Police Search and Rescue, uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue Services and Mounties EMS (Emergency Medical Services) responded.

While responding further eyewitness emergency calls indicated that one man had managed to reach the shore and one man had gone missing in the surf zone.

On arrival on the scene, it was confirmed that one man, age 26, was safely ashore and his friend, age 27, had gone missing after last being seen in distress appearing to be caught in rip currents in the surf zone.

An extensive search has revealed no signs of the missing man.

Police have opened an investigation.

It appears that while swimming the 26 year old may have been caught in rip currents when his friend reportedly tried to assist him but he was then caught in the rip currents.

Paramedics attended to the 26 year old and after being medically assessed he required no further medical care.

Police Search and Rescue are continuing in ongoing search efforts for the missing man.

Thoughts and care are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.

NSRI – STATION 19, Richards Bay.NSRI – Richards Bay – Monday, 19 October. A man is missing: Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander,…

19/10/2026

In swells of up to 5 metres, NSRI Table Bay crew hoisted a seriously injured seafarer from a 229-metre cargo ship 12 nautical miles offshore on Saturday, 17 October, bringing him safely back to land and into the care of paramedics.

NSRI Table Bay carried out a maritime medical evacuation of a seriously injured 30-year-old Filipino seafarer from a 229-metre cargo ship, 12 nautical…

24/08/2026

NSRI Station 22 Vaal Dam recently had the pleasure of hosting the South African Scouts at our base for a water safety training session. This initiative forms part of the station's mission to promote a strong water safety culture through collaboration with NSRI Community Programmes. By engaging with young people and equipping them with essential safety knowledge, we continue to contribute towards safer communities around our waterways.
As a Non-profit organisation made up of over 1500 volunteers , NSRI relies on dedicated community members to help save lives and promote water safety. If you are passionate about serving your community, developing new skills, and making a meaningful difference, we encourage you to consider joining our volunteer team. Together, we can build a safer future on and around the water.

12/08/2026

Raging floodwaters spare no one and can wash away entire livelihoods in a matter of minutes. Our Kleinmond volunteers battled for hours to pull 23 people to safety, but the tragic loss of three lives remains a heavy burden.

Hear the raw account directly from the rescuers who lived it.

Watch the video and read the full article here: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/07/a-flood-
rescue-told-by-the-volunteers-who-lived-it/

23/05/2026

Right okes…

Today’s article isn’t the usual “which motor is faster” or “why your trailer wheel bearings are held together by prayer and old grease.”

No no.

Today we’re talking about the moment boating goes from:

“Shot for the beers boet”

To:

“Hello sir, can you explain exactly what happened here?”

Because let me tell you something a LOT of South African skippers do not understand properly…

The SECOND you put people on your boat and leave the ramp...

You are no longer just “the oke driving.”

You are legally responsible for every single soul on that boat.

And if something goes wrong?

Not “my cousin’s boat.”
Not “our trip.”
Not “the crew.”

YOU.

The skipper.

Congratulations boet.

You wanted to hold the throttle.
Now you hold the responsibility too.

𝗦𝗢 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗡 “𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧”?

Because this is where okes already get it wrong.

Most people think a “marine incident” means:

• Boat on fire
• Helicopters
• NSRI everywhere
• Carte Blanche episode next Sunday

Nope.

According to SAMSA, an incident can ALSO be:

• Boat stranded
• Serious damage
• Someone seriously injured
• A vessel in “great peril”

Now THAT last one is where things get spicy.

“Great peril.”

That’s a VERY fancy legal way of saying:

“Ag fok this is going badly.”

Engine dies offshore while the swell starts standing up?

Great peril.

Boat nearly rolls because your china hit a wake sideways doing Mach 11?

Great peril.

Stranded on a sandbank while the wind starts pumping and your crew suddenly goes very quiet?

Great peril.

A lot of okes have probably already had a reportable incident and didn’t even know it.

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝟭: 𝗗𝗢. 𝗡𝗢𝗧. 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘.

This sounds obvious.

Yet somehow every second oke’s first instinct is:

• “Let’s just get home quickly.”
• “We’ll sort it out later.”
• “Don’t say anything yet.”
• “Phone my lawyer.”
• “Phone my wife.”
• “Actually no don’t phone my wife.”

Listen carefully.

If something serious happens on the water

YOU DO NOT JUST LEAVE.

Under SA law, the skipper has a legal duty to stop and assist.

Not tomorrow.
Not after the panic settles.
Not after a dop and a debrief around the braai.

Immediately.

Same way you can’t drive away from a car accident…

You can’t throttle away from a boating incident pretending it’ll disappear into the sunset like a pontoon advert.

You stop.
You help.
You stay.

Simple.

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝟮: 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦. 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗧.

And this is important because some okes panic and immediately start worrying about:

• Insurance
• Fibreglass damage
• The motor
• The trailer
• “Cowling is scratched”

Meanwhile there’s still a guy floating in the water.

PEOPLE FIRST.

Always.

Your legal responsibility is to assist EVERYONE affected.

Even if the other oke caused the accident.

Even if he drove like a complete chop.

Even if your blood pressure is currently 240/190.

You assist.

• Get people out the water
• Do first aid
• Keep everyone calm
• Count heads properly
• Call NSRI immediately if needed

And please boet…

This is not the time for six different uncles screaming six different instructions.

Every boating emergency somehow turns into:

• “TURN LEFT!”
• “NO RIGHT!”
• “KILL THE MOTOR!”
• “WHERE’S THE LIFE JACKETS?”
• “WHO TOOK MY PHONE?”

Absolute chaos.

The skipper must stay calm.

Even if inside your soul has already left your body.

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝟯: 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣. 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬.

One thing about NSRI okes?

They would MUCH rather arrive and find out things aren’t that serious…

Than arrive too late.

So if someone is injured…
Missing…
Boat taking on water…
Conditions getting dangerous…

CALL.

Immediately.

Not after a 45-minute WhatsApp group discussion titled:

“Do you guys think we should maybe call someone?”

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝟰: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟮𝟰-𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗦𝗔 𝗥𝗨𝗟𝗘

Now THIS…

This is the part most SA boaters genuinely do not know.

If you’ve had a qualifying marine incident

You are legally required to report it to SAMSA within 24 hours.

Twenty.
Four.
Hours.

Not Monday.

Not after your insurance quote.

Not after your buddy says:
“Ag no man don’t worry about it.”

Within 24 hours.

And here’s where okes get themselves properly in the kak…

Sometimes the accident itself wasn’t even criminal.

Could’ve been weather.
Mechanical failure.
Freak situation.
Honest mistake.

BUT THEN…

The oke never reports it.

And now suddenly he’s committed a SECOND offence completely for free.

Because he couldn’t fill in paperwork.

Imagine surviving the actual emergency…

Only to get folded by admin.

That’s South Africa for you boet.

𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝟱: 𝗬𝗘𝗦… 𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗢.

A lot of people think:
“I reported to SAMSA. Done.”

Negative captain.

SAPS ALSO needs to be informed.

Because once injuries, negligence, fatalities or dangerous operation enters the chat…

This is no longer just “a boating problem.”

This becomes a legal investigation.

Statements.
Witnesses.
Evidence.
Possible charges.

And this is where the article suddenly stops feeling lekker.

Because people forget something VERY important:

If somebody dies on your boat because you were negligent…

You can absolutely face culpable homicide charges in South Africa.

That’s real life.

Not Facebook comments.
Not boating gossip.
Not “my buddy knows a guy.”

REAL charges.

REAL court.

REAL consequences.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗦 “𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘”?

Sometimes it’s the obvious stuff.

• Drinking and boating
• Overloading the boat
• No safety gear
• Ignoring weather warnings
• Running stupid speeds
• Not using kill switches
• Known mechanical issues

But sometimes negligence is smaller stuff that stacks up.

The law basically asks:

“Would a reasonable skipper have done this?”

And boet…

Some okes on our dams and coastlines are operating WELL outside the “reasonable skipper” category.

You see them every December:

• Cooler box first
• Safety briefing never
• Six people sitting on the bow
• One oke barefoot holding onto the T-top for emotional support
• Driver trimmed to the moon
• Music at nightclub levels
• Absolutely zero clue what’s happening

Then when things go wrong everybody suddenly acts shocked.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥

Most incidents in SA never get reported properly.

And honestly?

I understand why.

After a traumatic day on the water the LAST thing you feel like doing is paperwork.

You’re tired.
Shaken.
Embarrassed.
Stressed.

But reporting matters.

Because every incident teaches something.

What failed.
What conditions caused problems.
What equipment saved lives.
What mistakes got people hurt.

That information helps the next skipper.

And one day…

That next skipper might be you.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢?

Brief your people before every trip.

Seriously.

Not a TED Talk.

Just two minutes.

• Where the life jackets are
• What to do if someone falls overboard
• Emergency numbers
• Fire extinguisher location
• Kill switch
• Basic plan if things go sideways

Because when panic hits…

People become absolutely useless.

You can have a grown man with two businesses and a Hilux…

Completely forget how a life jacket works the second the boat starts leaning funny.

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦

Being skipper is lekker.

But it’s also serious.

The ocean doesn’t care about confidence.
The dam doesn’t care about ego.

And the law definitely doesn’t care about:
“But officer we were just having a jol…”

The second you leave that ramp

You carry responsibility.

Real responsibility.

So know the rules BEFORE you need them.

Because trust me…

The day something goes wrong is a terrible time to start Googling:
“Can I leave the scene of a boating accident South Africa?”

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀
• Did you know about the 24-hour SAMSA reporting rule?
• Have you ever had a proper “oh jinne…” moment on the water?
• And be honest… do you actually brief your crew before every trip?