NSRI

03/11/2026

Green to sea: Thank you, Jeffreys Bay Bowling Club! 🎳⚓

A huge thank you to the Jeffreys Bay Bowling Club for their warm invitation and incredible support during their competition this past Sunday!

Our team was privileged to drop in, share a quick update on Station 37’s recent operations, and speak about the work our volunteers do along the Kouga coastline.

We are deeply grateful to the club leadership for hosting us, and to every member and player who opened their hearts and wallets as the donation bowl went around, raising a fantastic R1,970 for our station!

As a volunteer-driven non-profit, every bit of community support goes a long way toward keeping our rescue craft fueled, our gear operational, and our crew ready to respond 24/7.

Thank you, JBay Bowls, for backing your local sea rescue team! 💙

03/11/2026

Joint ops on the water: Heavy tow & helm training with Station 21 ⚓🌊

This past Sunday, crews from NSRI Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay) and NSRI Station 21 (St Francis Bay) headed out for a combined sea training session focused on heavy towing and vessel maneuvers.
Joint exercises like this are vital for keeping our response seamless across neighboring stations. Sunday's session covered:

* Heavy tow simulations: Practicing towing procedures and rig setups under real sea conditions.
* Crew transfers: Executing precision boat drop-offs and pick-ups between vessels.
* Trainee Coxswain sign-offs: Working through practical assessment tasks for candidates advancing through the coxswain pipeline.
* Helm hours: Giving our building helmsmen valuable time at the controls to hone vessel handling.

Huge thanks to the Station 21 team for working alongside us. Stronger together, ready for whatever the ocean throws at us. 💙

30/10/2026

Congratulations to Charles Booysen, our September Photo of the Month winner, for this cracking photograph of a humpback whale breaching in False Bay.

Charles wins a R250 voucher for the NSRI online shop.

Think you have a photo that captures the NSRI, our volunteers, supporters or the places where we operate? Submit your photo for a chance to be featured and win next month’s prize.

Read the competition terms and find out how to enter: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/photo-of-the-month-september-2026/

28/10/2026

Earlier this year, 196 young people began a journey to become stronger water-safety leaders in their communities.

Now, four YeboScouters have taken another step forward, completing an intensive five-day lifeguard readiness programme with the NSRI.

Over five days, they worked through CPR, shallow-water rescues, spinal management and patient recovery, while making significant progress in the water.

But becoming a lifeguard is about more than being a strong swimmer. It is about prevention, awareness, teamwork and knowing how to respond when something goes wrong.

For these four young people, the journey isn't over yet. They will continue training as they work towards their qualifying assessments.

Saving lives, changing lives and creating futures.

Read the full story of their journey here: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/09/yeboscouters-take-on-lifeguard-training/

27/10/2026

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

26/10/2026

NSRI – STATION 3, Table Bay. STATION 18, Melkbosstrand. STATION 1, VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department.

NSRI – Table Bay – Monday, 26 October. A commercial charter vessel assisted:


Davide Del Fante, NSRI Table Bay coxswain, said:

At 18h59, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local commercial charter vessel, on a sunset cruise, reporting to be taking on water, offshore of Green Point, with 37 passengers, including 7 crew.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Table Bay station 3 rescue base while shore controllers responded to get visuals from the shore side.

NSRI Melkbosstrand were placed on alert.

NSRI VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department, conducting routine training, dispatched the NSRI rescue craft Colorpress Rescuer.

NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer.

At least 6 local fellow commercial charter boats, in the area at the time, were on hand at the casualty vessel ready to assist if required.

TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control put tug vessels on alert to assist if necessary.

On NSRI rescue craft arriving on the scene we found the casualty vessel underway, under her own power, and NSRI rescue craft escorted the vessel to her moorings at the V&A marina in the Port of Table Bay.

Once the casualty vessel was safely moored all passengers disembarked safely without incident and they required no assistance.

NSRI crew joined the casualty vessel crew onboard where 2 NSRI water extrication pumps were deployed and water ingress, in the engine room, was extracted.

After all water was extricated the water inflow was stemmed and no further assistance was required.

The operation was completed at 20h00.
https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/commercial-sunset-cruise-vessel-escorted-safely-to-marina-after-taking-on-water/

26/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-ganzekraal-monday-26-october-a-father-and-his-son-trapped-on-rocks-offshore-cut-off-from-mainland-by-the-spring-high-tide/

NSRI – Ganzekraal – Monday, 26 October. A father and his son trapped on rocks offshore, cut off from mainland by the Spring high tide:


Junre Marais, NSRI Yzerfontein station commander, said:

At 14h30, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following call to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) from family reporting that a father and his son were on rocks, offshore at Ganzekraal, and cut off from mainland by the Spring high tide.

The father, age 50, and his son, age 9, from Cape Town, had been fishing from rocks that were easily accessible during the Spring low tide but at the Spring high tide they were cut off from being able to get back to mainland.

Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Yzerfontein station 34 rescue base and we dispatched our rescue vehicle, towing our rescue craft JetRIB Janine.

On arrival Ganzekraal we launched our rescue craft Janine and reached the casualties at a rocky outcrop offshore.

An NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed onto the rocks where the father was assisted onto the rescue craft, accompanied by their fishing gear, and he was brought to shore safely.

The NSRI craft returned to the rocks and without incident the son and our rescue swimmer were brought to shore onboard our rescue craft.

Once safely ashore they required no further assistance.

Our rescue craft was recovered at 16h00 and the operation was completed at 17h00.

25/10/2026

25/10/2026

Headline: Earning the badge: Congratulations to Tyrone Bennett! ⚓

A massive congratulations to Tyrone Bennett, who officially earned his Sea Rescue Crew badge today!

Earning the crew badge requires immense dedication, rigorous physical and technical training, and logging 30 sea hours on our rescue craft, including 10 demanding night hours. Showing incredible commitment, Tyrone stayed the course through nearly a year as a candidate trainee, putting in the hard work and countless hours on the water to prove his readiness.

His perseverance has paid off, and he is now officially qualified as active crew at Station 37.

Tyrone, thank you for stepping up to serve the Jeffreys Bay community. We are proud to have you on the team. See you on the water! 🌊

25/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-ballito-sunday-25-october-a-man-is-missing/

A man believed to be 35 remains missing after being caught in rip currents near the Salmon Bay launch site, Ballito. Search efforts by NSRI and partner…

25/10/2026

https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/10/nsri-wilderness-man-dies-after-drowning-accident-at-leentjiesklip-beach/

A local man has died following a drowning accident at Leentjiesklip Beach, Wilderness, after two fathers went into the water to help their teenage sons…

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/

16/10/2026

Yesterday evening, Station 37 launched for a scheduled night training session, a major milestone that marked Tristan Pillay’s very first night launch as Coxswain in command of the rescue craft!

Night operations present unique challenges, requiring sharp GPS navigation, precise AIS tracking, clear crew communication, and expert boat handling in pitch-black conditions. Under Tristan’s helm, the team executed a smooth and successful operation on the water.

This exercise was also a crucial step forward for our candidate trainees. To earn their official Sea Rescue Crew badge, trainees must log a total of 30 sea hours on rescue vessels, with at least 10 of those hours completed at night.

Congratulations to Tristan on leading his first night launch in command, and well done to our trainees for putting in the dark hours toward earning their badges! 🌊

11/10/2026

A milestone moment at Station 37 as Tristan Pillay takes the controls for his very first launch of Rescue 37 as a newly qualified Class III Coxswain!

From years of dedicated sea time as crew to mastering advanced navigation and command leadership, seeing Tristan helm the vessel through the surf is a proud moment for our whole base.

Congratulations on taking the wheel, Captain! Here’s to many more safe launches and successful operations. 🌊

11/10/2026

Station 37 volunteers recently discovered that several Pink Rescue Buoy installations along our coastline have been deliberately damaged. Beyond signage being defaced with spray paint, the securing harnesses on some of the buoys have also been cut.

The NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy initiative is a critical drowning prevention project deployed at strategic public water locations across South Africa. These buoys are freely accessible emergency flotation devices designed to save lives in a rip current or water emergency while bystander rescues are underway.

Tampering with these buoys, whether by obscuring instructional signage or cutting the attachment harnesses, directly compromises public safety. In a critical water emergency, every second counts, and damaged or missing equipment can cost lives.
We appeal to the Jeffreys Bay community to help us safeguard this vital infrastructure. If you see anyone tampering with Pink Buoys or notice any damaged, defaced, or missing equipment along our beaches, please report it to Station 37 or the NSRI immediately so our volunteers can repair and replace them.

Let’s work together to protect the equipment that protects our community.

06/10/2026

Leadership on the water: New Coxswain qualifications awarded at Station 37

At this evening's monthly base meeting, Station Commander Kristo Kritzinger officially presented Tristan Pillay and Lesley Zonnekein with their coxswain qualification awards.

* Tristan Pillay was recognized for successfully qualifying as a Class III Coxswain.
* Lesley Zonnekein was recognized for qualifying as a Class IV Coxswain.

Attaining a coxswain ticket requires extensive sea hours, rigorous practical evaluations, and demonstrated command leadership under high-pressure conditions. The dedication shown by both Tristan and Lesley directly strengthens Station 37's operational command structure and emergency response capabilities on the water.

Congratulations to both coxswains on these well-deserved milestones. Thank you for your continued commitment to serving the Jeffreys Bay community. ⚓

03/10/2026

FLASHBACK: SWIFT WATER RESCUE OPERATION 🌊🚜

A look back at the major flooding that hit the Kouga region earlier this year. Volunteer crews from NSRI Station 37 (Jeffreys Bay) and Station 21 (St Francis Bay) responded side-by-side in demanding conditions to assist residents trapped by fast-flowing floodwaters.
As shown in the footage, the joint teams established technical line systems and deployed inflatable rescue craft to navigate the heavy current safely.

Operations like this highlight the vital partnership between neighboring stations when severe weather impacts our region. Thanks to continuous swift-water training and seamless cross-station coordination, our volunteers were able to execute the rescue and bring everyone back to safety.

17/05/2026

Applications for the NSRI Station 37 volunteer trainee intake are closing this week.

​This is your final opportunity to apply to join our team. We are looking for mature, settled residents who are permanently based in Jeffreys Bay and are ready to make a serious, long-term commitment to the safety of our coastline.
​Why join the crew?

​Professional-Level Training: Successful applicants will receive comprehensive, high-level training in maritime operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) methodology, and advanced medical care.
​Community Service: You will become part of a disciplined, volunteer-run emergency service dedicated to protecting the people and visitors of Jeffreys Bay.

​If you have the stability, the time, and the drive to maintain a 24-hour response capability, do not miss the deadline.

​How to apply:
Scan the QR code on our flyer or click the link below to complete the application form today.

​Application Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwzdw4312xMO8iX0OuxutU6pV4cuKdD8ZHE5K9mkDIdTiUAQ/viewform?usp=header

​Please note: Accepted applicants will be contacted directly to schedule a formal interview at the station.