New building for NSRI Station 17 Hermanus

Writer Taylum Meyer

The original NSRI Station 17 was built in 1976 and, due to the constant growth of the station, has had to expand every few years to house more equipment and more volunteers. The original structure finally become too small to be functional and construction on a new building for NSRI Station 17 in Hermanus was started earlier this year in April.

The new building, designed by Nicolette Lloyd Architectural Design, is valued at R13 million and is an investment made by NSRI Head Office. The new station building is estimated to be approximately three times the size of the old one.

ABOVE: The new NSRI Station 17 building designed by Nicolette Lloyd Architectural Design. Below: André Barnard from Station 17 at a High Angle Rescue Course in Cape Town. Once the new building is complete, volunteers will be able to train in Hermanus. PHOTO: NSRI

NSRI Station 17 currently has 23 volunteers, led by Station Commander Deon Langenhoven, who has been in charge of the station for the last five years. The base has three vessels for rescues and the team services an area from Quoin Point near Cape Agulhas, to Hangklip in Pringle Bay. They also currently have the largest vessel in the Overstrand, allowing them to assist extend their service.

The NSRI Hermanus team will also be receiving a 14.8m Orc Class Deep-Sea Rescue Vessel to the value of R15 million in January 2021. “We were the busiest Class One station in the country last year,” says Deon. “This boat can travel up to 800 nautical miles and travels twice as fast as our current vessel, with a top speed of 30 knots. This will enable us to get to casualties over longer distances at twice the speed.” The boat is also much bigger than their current vessels and would not have been able to fit in the station’s old building.

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