FROM THE HELM T
HE SOUTHEASTERLY wind outside my new
join us after many years of operating from leased premises in Milnerton Mall. Bringing everyone
office in Milnerton tells me the equinox has passed, the 10˚C water in the tidal pool is confirmation, and the blooming trees and hay fever are sure signs that summer is here. Hopefully the miserable winter of the Covid-19 pandemic is over and we can get on with our lives again. Fingers and toes crossed! Over one recent weekend we saved 20 lives in a number of incidents along the coast and inland: a yacht running into a pipe at Langebaan, seals biting spearfishermen, fishermen slipping on dolosse, cars driving into dams… All ops normal in the NSRI – it just doesn’t stop. We often think winter is a quiet time, but incidents occur all year round. What has changed with Covid-19 is there seems to be a far more energetic drive to get outdoors – we’re going to have our work cut out for us! Our new vessels are emerging from their moulds and will be delivered by the summer season. Unfortunately the blockages in the global supply chain have slowed down our ORC programme deliveries, and Hermanus may have to
home to a single facility will create the opportunity for greater innovation, communication and service to the operational rescue volunteers. The move will also introduce new technology and digital solutions to a previously manual system. Drowning-prevention initiatives, water safety education, survival swimming and water safety advocacy have continued through the year, and Jill Fortuin has brought new skills to the efforts to address research into drowning, the findings of which will inform our strategy. We are a lead agency in drowning prevention in South Africa: we spend more than R20m on prevention (Pink Rescue Buoys, water safety, survival swimming, advocacy and more), and can be given at least some credit for the fact that the fatal drowning rate has decreased to a rate of 2.6 per 100 000. Every save is not only a life saved, but many livelihoods are preserved – a very important economic issue for every family protected from the impact of a family member, a breadwinner, dying. I can never say enough about our donor, staff
wait a while longer as we wait for gearbox parts. The volunteer community trained continuously through winter and our lifeguard units are prepared. You get the sense of passionate anticipation of the season to come. They love it – it’s what they do! The head-office personnel have moved into a new volunteer support centre in Milnerton that will eventually accommodate management, training, supply chain, fundraising, marketing and, in January 2022, the call-centre members, who will
and volunteer culture and the energy that drives the NSRI. You rock and, as you can hear, you have a real impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. I’m looking forward to a safe summer filled with adventures. See you on the water. Enjoy!
DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO
CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 4 Longclaw Drive, Milnerton, Cape Town, 7441; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661 Email: info@searescue.org.za Web: www.nsri.org.za www.facebook.com/SeaRescue
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SEA RESCUE SUMMER 2021
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