Recently two people drowned in Blaauwberg – such a terrible incident, so traumatising for family and crew, but such an important leveller and a reminder of why we do what we do. My thoughts go out to the family, friends and rescuers.
I guess this may well be my final CEO message to all of you, who by now feel very much like family, bound together by our mission to make this nation water safe. It’s a personal relationship, a bond within the social capital of our NSRI community and, judging by the support we get from you guys, we can see that you’re as invested as we are!
So, after 35 years in the NSRI, 11 of them as CEO, I am humbled by your support and offer my sincere, heartfelt thanks and gratitude, not only for the support but for your enduring commitment to what we do. Volunteers and staff are energised by your selfless contribution and encouragement.
We’ve done a lot in the last 10 years and NSRI activity has expanded massively. We now have over 130 service locations, if you include lifeguarding; we have drowning prevention education and survival swimming training in all nine provinces; and we really are delivering a national strategic service to the country.
We have grown the volunteer numbers to 1 500 and sustained them through a huge training effort thanks to a really energetic, young training team and I know that they appreciate every ounce of development delivered. In December 2023 our staff complement exceeded 600, with our lifeguards onboard for the season. With the call centre now firmly part of our Volunteer Support
Centre in Cape Town, we have almost 200 permanent staff delivering operations, drowning prevention, fundraising, marketing and administration. Our donor population has grown to include corporates and individuals numbering more than 100 000 people and organisations.
Our fleet of vessels (and buildings), including six Offshore Rescue Craft (ORCS), RIBS and JetRIBS, is in really good condition, rescue ready as it should be, and well maintained! When you visit our stations you’ll be impressed by how well the crew look after their assets, and by their understanding of and insight into their equipment as life-saving tools. These guys rescue over 1 500 people every year, day in and night out, at all times, through all seasons.
Innovation has been a key element of our evolution over the last 10 years: the JetRIB concept, a RIB powered by a standard jetski, has been a game-changer for surf rescue in terms of crew and casualty safety, and ease of deployability and operation. The Pink Rescue Buoy programme, with pink buoys located all over South Africa, has been instrumental in saving almost 200 lives in just a few years and our Beach Safety Camera project is delivering unique insights and learning that will help shape our future operations.
Financial sustainability remains a challenge: we raise R200 million each year from a diverse range of activities, but the demand for resources, bases, vessels and vehicles to sustain operations increases every year, placing constant pressure on our donors. Until now we’ve been able to raise the necessary funding and maintain a crisis reserve but in a challenging economy the pressure remains.
TISSOT SEASTAR AUTOMATIC
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Mark Hughes, who retires with me this year, has always said that whatever we do, we should always be having fun! It’s a mantra of his from his volunteer days! We’ve had fun, probably created by hard work. The fulfilment from having created such a wonderful responsive service to the people of this country leaves us with a huge sense of satisfaction – while acknowledging, with humility, that this is all made possible by you the donor, supporter, volunteer or stakeholder.
So thank you, thank you for your service, and please continue to support the NSRI and its mission to make South Africa a water-safe nation.
So long, best wishes, I’m sure I’ll see you on the water somewhere, and I probably won’t be asked, ‘Am I winning the car this year?’!
All the best
DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO
THANKS TO LEZHAE SNYDERS
We, the Executive Team and members of Greenfields Neighbourhood Watch, would like to thank you for the wonderful presentation you gave to the kids.
Your presentation was phenomenal; you interacted so well with the children and you made them engage with each activity.
We strive to better our community, and, with your demonstration as an NSRI representative, you highlighted issues such as water safety and safety in general. This has not only given us and our kids hope, but has also encouraged our faith in doing what we do. It’s a blessing and a true reflection of the work you do.
Thank you once again, Lezhae, and to all who were involved. We are extremely thankful for your commitment and support of our cause.
GREENFIELDS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Clinton Daniels (Chairperson), Einrich Erasmus (Vice Chairperson), Joey Miller (Secretary), Lucia Julies (Vice Secretary)
GREETINGS FROM THE RNLI
We transited back to the UK on probably the worst flight of our lives with BA but the experience could not dull the sheer delight at meeting you [Brad Gale] and your colleagues (in particular Paula) who very graciously spent a lot of time with us on board the rescue craft.
I had a meeting to prepare for on the following Friday with the Visits Team and as part of it I suggested there be a slide show. I remember the olden days when relatives went on holiday: they’d come to our house on a Sunday evening after the holiday with a plastic box rattling with 35mm slides. All very boring but we had to sit through their slide show about birds eating peanuts from their hands or squirrels walking along telegraph wires! I then warned them that they
could not escape and I would subject them to something similar one day.
Their interest never waned and they were fascinated by the work of the NSRI, and one member in particular remembers the Brede LB’s being shipped to SA to help you.
I hope we keep in touch and I intend to send you regular updates about our station and its operations. I have included a photo of our all-weather lifeboat 13-18 on the apron outside the LBS. Unfortunately 13-18 is sick at present, having had to have a coupling replaced, which connects
The Llandudno Lifeboat Station of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Wales. With a common mandate to save lives, the RNLI and NSRI have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for many years.
the drive shaft of the starboard engine to the impeller system. She is now at the RNLI HQ in Poole having a new Kevlar skin applied to the area around the keel. We hope to get her back soon and have a ‘service loan’ or relief boat 13-26 on station at present.
We hope all goes well in CT and, once again, our very best wishes and thank you for your kindness and hospitality.
NSRI Station 43 (Port Nolloth) is ideally situated to assist people at sea and you are the perfect individual to command this station. Your availability and attention to our needs was unmatched. You never hesitated to help us with whatever problem we had, and always had a solution to help, whether it was in procuring fresh water, sourcing diesel, guiding us on the VHF through the harbour to avoid the many mooring lines of the diamond mining boats, keeping an eye on Jambo, our yacht, when we headed inland for two days, and in allowing us to freshen up in the NSRI building.
All of these things were invaluable to us.
Andre, you went above and beyond to help us when the northerly arrived on our last two days at anchor by offering us accommodation in your guesthouse on land free of charge. The anchorage at Port Nolloth is very rolly but with the northerly winds it would have been uncomfortable in the extreme to stay on board. We all thank
you for that respite; Fiona, in particular, extends her heartfelt gratitude.
It is impossible to imagine our 16-day anchorage in Port Nolloth without the NSRI and you.
We commend you for all your efforts in making our stay, above all else, safe but also immeasurably less stressful for us.
Thank you very much.
NIGEL AND FIONA HUTT, SV JAMBO
ASSISTING THE CREW OF TIPSY
As the Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club and my Vasco Committee for 2024, may I thank you for your recent rescue efforts of the yacht Tipsy during her return from the Vasco da Gama Ocean Race.
It is deeds such as this that exemplify what it means to be a part of our sailing community, constantly being available and sacrificing your own time for our sport and safety throughout South Africa.
As the Commodore of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, may I further offer our club’s hospitability to you and your teams. Should you wish to make use of our club at any time, our club doors are open to you and your team.
In closing, the race has received a number of compliments as well as strong support from the Vasco sailors, clubs and visitors alike, leading us to believe that this year’s event was a success. We hope that NSRI will again consider supporting this prestigious race in 2025, and we look forward to growing this event alongside associations such as yourselves.
Yours sincerely,
LEO KROONE RNYC Commodore
GETTING TO THE OCEANA AMETHYST
After one attempt to reach a casualty vessel had to be aborted because of concerns around NSRI crew safety, a second successful operation involving Station 3’s ORC had a great result, as 22 crew were safely taken from the fast-sinking fishing vessel the Oceana Amethyst. By Andrew Ingram
From the first day of joining a Sea Rescue crew, it is drummed into each volunteer, ‘Your safety comes first.’ As each volunteer progresses through the ranks, some becoming coxswains and taking responsibility for the crew and the rescue boat, this mantra is repeated: ‘Your crew and your craft come first.’
But as it is in life, so it is at sea. It’s often harder to say no than to say yes.
One of the hardest things for a Sea Rescue coxswain is giving the order to turn around on a callout. This is the decision that Spencer Oldham, station commander
at Station 8, Hout Bay, and coxswain on the 10-metre Brede Nadine Gordimer, call sign Rescue 8, had to make on Friday, 26 April 2024.
The Oceana Amethyst, a wooden-hulled long-line fishing vessel, was taking on water about 30 miles west of Hout Bay. Her sister ship, Penkop II, was towing her, and the skipper had asked for extra pumps to be brought to her.
The weather, however, was not favourable, so a call was put out for an experienced crew to report to the station for the launch. Station 10 (Simon’s Town) had
delivered an extra pump to Hout Bay, and the wind was blowing 28 to 30 knots when Nadine Gordimer launched with two Class 1 coxswains, one trainee coxswain and a crewman on board.
Spencer takes up the story. ‘There was quite a swell running, and the wind was picking up.
‘We were running on an east-west course out of Hout Bay. We had to steer clear of Dungeons and Tafelberg Reef on the way out of the bay, as they were running with huge breaking swells, and at about 12 miles off Hout Bay, the swells started to pick up monstrously.
‘We started the trip running 18 knots, then dropped to 15 and, finally, 8 knots. These three-to-four-metre swells running north at about 20 knots were hitting us on our port side. The wind picked up to 30 knots, and sometimes the swells would join together, start to break at the top and smash into us.
‘Franco was helming. Franco is a very, very experienced coxswain. We had been doing this for about an hour and still had 20 miles to go in weather that was getting worse and worse.
‘The swells would hit us in the port quarter, and we would broach to starboard, and because the swell was moving so fast, we could not keep out of it. The boat rolled to starboard, and we had to steer with it. We were going down the face of the waves sideways. We tried altering course northwards to run with the swells while still heading out to the casualty, but the Brede could not keep up with the northerly swell.
‘I was looking out of the starboard window next to the nav desk, seeing water
coming over the deck as we surfed down the wave. Our satellite compass showed that our roll was getting to 35 degrees. At one point, we got hit by four or five waves in as many minutes. I honestly thought that we were going to roll.
‘Franco was sweating, trying to keep the boat stable, and I asked him, “Are you all right?” He replied: “No, this is not good.”
‘I made the decision to ask Table Bay’s 14m rescue boat DHL Deliverer to launch and we turned Nadine Gordimer around.
‘As we turned around, we were hit by a set of massive swells and deep troughs. We were going airborne. All watertight doors had been dogged before leaving the bay, and the cabin was misting up. We would constantly wipe the windows and see this massive Dungeons-type swell running at us.
‘It was absolutely the right decision to turn back, and with hindsight, our ETA at the Amethyst would have been 35 minutes after she sank,’ says Spencer after a long pause.
‘Franco was sweating, trying to keep the boat stable, and I asked him, “Are you all right?” He replied: “No, this is not good.”’
‘That call was the first time in my Sea Rescue career that I actually buckled my seatbelt on the Brede.
‘All four of us were strapped in. It was hectic…’
The 14-metre Table Bay-based Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) DHL Deliverer was asked to launch.
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The ORC is one of the best deep-sea rescue vessels a Sea Rescue crew could wish to have. She is big and powerful, and she has remarkable sea-holding. She is built for crew safety and can carry out rescue missions that are too dangerous for other craft to attempt.
DHL Deliverer launched at 14h23. Like Nadine Gordimer, she had an extremely experienced crew of six, with Davide Del Fante as the duty coxswain.
‘It was about 1 o’clock when we heard that Hout Bay had had to turn back due to sea conditions,’ recounts Davide.
‘We heard that conditions had deteriorated at the casualty vessel, so we launched with just one pump instead of waiting for two additional pumps. If things took a turn for the worse, we wanted to be on scene.
‘The sea state was pretty big, and the wind was up. The swell was on our beam, making things a little challenging.
‘We had to alter our course by 10 or 15 degrees to the south to run into the weather and then turn back to Oceana Amethyst once we got out there.
‘We arrived on the scene, and their sister ship still had them under tow. We started preparing the pump to send across but could see they were listing quite badly on their starboard quarter, and the swell was hammering their beam.
‘When a swell hit them, the water level was well above their gunwale and flooded the aft deck. We quickly realised this would not be a simple matter of passing a pump over. It was going to be case of getting the guys off that boat. Their skipper radioed us as we discussed this, and it was agreed that it was time to abandon ship.
‘They did an excellent job deploying their life raft in those conditions. We repositioned onto their downwind side and stood off while they got into their life raft one at a time. The last crew member stepped in and cut the painter line shortly after, and they drifted away from the sinking trawler.’
Moments later, the vessel sank.
‘There was a lot of flotsam in the water – buoys, ropes and everything else that had been on deck. We edged our bow to get close to them while keeping our props free. We then threw them a heaving line, allowing us to slowly tow them away from the debris before we started transferring them one by one.’
Davide was helming from the flybridge, giving him a good view of the scene.
‘We had a rescue swimmer on the swimmers’ platform at the stern and crew at the railing on the port side. There were three-to-four-metre swells, and the wind was up. Communication between the crew was challenging with the wind being up like that, but we got it done. The crew did an incredible job, everyone was calm and just got to work. Transferring 22 panicked crew out of a life raft in that sea state is no walk in the park, but it’s what we train for.
‘Once we had them all on the deck, we did a head count and then another, confirming with their skipper that everyone was accounted for.
‘Before leaving the scene, our two rescue swimmers went across to the life raft to fetch some of the Amethyst’s crew’s belongings that had been left behind before they sank the life raft to prevent any issues down the line.
‘This was the furthest callout I had done on the ORC and the most casualties we have taken on board. We were full up inside the cabin,’ says Davide.
‘She did incredibly well. Considering we had around two tons of extra weight on the way home, she handled it extremely well.
‘On the way home, the sea was on our beam, so we headed inshore towards Hout Bay before turning for Cape Town. Once we were in the lee of the mountain, we could run a bit quicker. But I was cautious as the boat felt very heavy. She was handling very well, so I could edge her up to between 12 and 14 knots and then a little bit quicker when we were closer inshore.’
The Table Bay volunteers had been at sea for four hours in extremely difficult conditions. They could rescue 22 fishermen and safely return them to the rescue base because they had a rescue craft designed to handle the worst sea conditions while heavily loaded.
‘The ORC was incredible,’ says Davide. ‘It was the biggest test I’ve had on her. She was put through her paces, and I have even more confidence in her abilities.’
Scan the QR code and watch the rescue unfold.
‘When a swell hit them, the water level was well above their gunwale and flooded the aft deck. We quickly realised this would not be a simple matter of passing a pump over. It was going to be case of getting the guys off that boat. Their skipper radioed us as we discussed this, and it was agreed that it was time to abandon ship.’
BUILT FOR ENDURANCE
On 1 July, GEMINI celebrated 45 years in existence. For nearly 40 of those, they have been making RIBs for the NSRI. CEO Gerhard Neethling spoke to us about what it takes to build a vessel that will bring crew and casualties home in extreme conditions. By Wendy Maritz
On 24 May at 19h30, NSRI Port Edward received a call from the coordinators of the 2024 Vasco da Gama Ocean Race (sailed from Durban to East London). After completing the race, and on route back to Durban, the yacht Tipsy had collided with a container at sea and was taking on water. The four crew members abandoned ship and took refuge in their life raft. Port Edward crew launched their 8.5 rigid inflatable boat or RIB, Spirit of Steve, and set off to rendezvous with the casualty believed to be 55nm off Port St Johns. Despite poor visibility and rough seas, the crew located Tipsy’s life raft at around 01h20, after it had drifted another 24nm. The casualties were brought onboard the recue vessel, the life raft deflated and a tow set up for it, and all returned safely to the Port Edward base at 06h30. It was a rescue involving a number of agencies and stations, but as far as distance was concerned, this callout marked
the longest undertaken by a single NSRI RIB, from start to finish, at 158nm.
Spirit of Steve is one of more than 100 RIBs built specifically for the NSRI by their longstanding partner, Gemini Marine. ‘Actually, it’s more of a friendship than a partnership,’ says CEO Gerhard Neethling, who is happy to share a coffee with the station commanders who pop in to the factory from time to time. The NSRI was Gemini’s first professional (non-leisure) customer; it’s a story that starts in the early ’80s.
Conway Syce fibreglassing the hull of a 5.5m Gemini destined for Station 11 (Port Alfred).
EARLY DAYS
Father-and-son team Mel and Jeff Stephens started the company, called Inflatable Boat Centre, or IBC, in 1979. Initially they sold and repaired imported rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) while working on developing their own brand. In the early 1980s, they decided to test the waters with their own design and approached the NSRI’s Commander Holman with draft sketches of the 5m Gemini Waverider RIB. With some persuasion, Commander Holman agreed to review the boat, but only once it was completed. When the first test boat was presented in 1983, it was regarded with some scepticism. However, after thorough sea trials, the boat’s exceptional seakeeping abilities became obvious.
‘The NSRI was Gemini’s first big customer and collaborator,’ says Gerhard. ‘The first 7.3m Waverider was purchased by NSRI in 1986. Fitted with an aluminium cabin, it was way ahead of its time.’ Two years later, the prototype 8.5m Waverider was developed and subsequently stationed at the base in Agulhas.’
From the very first RIB, the Bird of Dawning, which was designed to NSRI specs, to all subsequent models, the brief has been met consistently for hardy vessels that are able to handle rough seas.
UNIQUE RESCUE BOATS
‘The NSRI boats have a unique colour arrangement. Most European rescue vessels are orange or orange and black, and when a yellow boat appears in the queue, every-
Gerhard Neethling, CEO of Gemini Marine, talks to Mark Diedericks who is working on the 8.8m rescue boat for St Lucia. In the background is Johnson Dyibhani.
one knows it’s for Sea Rescue. These boats don’t follow the normal production process, as there are a lot of extras involved, like reinforcement of the hull and deck arrangement for tow-points, different tube attachment methods, and they spend a bit more time at the finish line,’ Gerhard says.
Gemini is currently building a 5.5m for the NSRI and because they hadn’t built one of this size for a while, due to the popularity of the WR650 (6.5m), it was back to the drawing board, Gerhard says. ‘But it meant we were able to apply new processes and technologies, i.e. using new improved raw materials and fibreglass we’re importing. Before the builds/designs get underway, the laminate schedule is sent to a naval architect for approval and sign off. Once that’s done, it’s sent to one of our international surveyors such as IMCI (International Marine Certification Institute) who validate what’s been sent. Then we build the boats according to the validated specification. What’s great is that because we have a DNV-GL Certified ISO Quality Management system in place, almost everything about the production of a particular boat is recorded and kept for 10+ years. If any issues do arise, we can track required information, investigate and, if needs be, take it up with the relevant supplier.’
The process is a meticulous one, and for the NSRI Gemini is pedantic about processes, materials and testing. ‘The boat that goes out to save the broken boat can’t break on the way there,’ he says. ‘These boats have to come home, always. And we apply that ethos across our entire range.
‘We use the hull and deck as the platform for what you want to do with a boat.
We differentiate ourselves by being able to apply different deck arrangements. So, on our WR880 (8.8m), a bestseller for the last eight years), we can provide a big wraparound console for the NSRI or do something different for a boat earmarked for thrill rides through the fjords in Norway, or add a single-point lift retrieval for SpaceX capsule recovery. We’ve done a lot and continue to invest a lot in our tooling and design for above-deck arrangements, including reinforcements and sliding track systems, to be be able to offer our users various options for different applications.’ If required, Gemini can include a technical drawing pack, consisting of schematic drawings, GAs (general arrangements) and renders that include what’s in and under the boat, how it’s been built, etc, for all the boats they manufacture. ‘For instance, if it’s a yacht tender boat, we can include dimensional drawings of how our RIBs fit onto the davits (small cranes) and everything else on the deck, so that the captain knows how much space the tender will take, how much it weighs and what equipment they’ll need to get it on and off the ship or yacht,’ he says. In addition, Gemini has a very
Mark Robertson explains a technical drawing of an 10.6m cabin RIB in Gemini’s technical and design office.
experienced tooling department, which enables them to design and tool their own products inhouse. ‘We can cut and modify a cabin, put it on the boat, see if it works, and enlarge it if necessary. We tool and produce an item (product/plug) to figure out if it works, and then we do what we call a post-construction drawing if it’s practical. That’s the process we follow for consoles and seating on new builds, then we produce and scan it so we have it on file. And we can always make a plan inhouse to “chop and change” it if necessary. Most other manufacturers will design in office, and send the item away for tooling production.’
Gemini’s turnkey service and highquality boat builds have resulted in their garnering a global reputation.
‘You’ll find a Gemini in just about every corner of the globe,’ Gerhard says. The company has recently supplied rescue RIBs to Jersey Island, St Helena Island, Fiji and Iceland and, more recently, Swaziland National Fire & Emergency Services and Addo Elephant Park, both of which finalised their decisions to purchase after visiting an NSRI station and viewing their vessels.
A SHARED GOAL
‘I was in a restaurant in Thesen Island in Knysna with a few NSRI volunteers a while back; their phones rang and it was an emergency callout. I remember thinking, these guys have got guts, going out in these conditions. So, it’s our job to give them a vessel and equipment that ensures their safety,’ Gerhard says. ‘We do sometimes get lost in the business of it, as we’re in the office, and don’t deal with the end-user, i.e. the crew person out on the call, but every now and then I’ll see a post, and read about how “the Gemini ate up the chop” during a rescue. And I think, “We did something special here.”’ When this happens, Gerhard takes a walk to the factory floor and shows his team the photo or video. ‘I’ll say to the guys, “Do you remember working on that yellow hull for “IPN 1234”? Look what it just did! You helped save a life.’
Gemini and the NSRI have a shared goal: safety at sea. Gerhard believes this ethos is the bedrock that has grown and sustained the relationship between the two organisations.
‘NSRI volunteers go out to sea when everyone else is heading to shore – they constantly put their own lives at risk for others,’ Gerhard says. ‘In my eyes there is no better reason for our association with these remarkable volunteers and the organisation they represent.’
PUTTING THE SCIENCE INTO SEARCH AND RESCUE
The NSRI’s Training Department is rolling out advanced search and rescue training to its Class 1 stations around the coast. We chatted to Graeme Harding and Charl Maritz about what the training entails. By Wendy Maritz
NSRI Training Manager Graeme
Harding remembers the first rescue he led as station commander of Station 12 (Knysna) well. It was 30 March 2009, when the wife of a leisure fisherman who had failed to return to shore when expected alerted the base. The station launched its 8.5m Colorpress Rescuer, requested support from Station 14 (Plettenberg Bay), as well as air support. Some time into the search, Knysna’s smaller 4.2m Spirit of KYC was also launched. By the time the search entered its fifth hour, Graeme had all but given up hope – the search was proving fruitless. Then he asked volunteers Thomas Holmes and Andrew Aveley onboard the little 4.2m to do one more pass at Castle Rock. They did as requested, moving a bit further out to sea to avoid a radio shadow in order to call in to confirm they had done a last pass and were returning to base. Then Andrew saw what looked like a head bobbing in the water at the edge of his vision. It was the casualty, and he was alive.
It was a remarkable rescue, but it illustrates very well one of the most difficult kinds of search and rescue scenarios: a single casualty separated from their vessel; no known location of the incident to establish a drift pattern; and no means
St Francis and Jeffreys Bay crew work on their theory, while practicals, demonstrations and scenario training await.
of communicating with the casualty. But it provides a good starting point for a discussion on the very basics of search and rescue, what Graeme refers to as ‘the possibles, the probables and the facts’, and using these, together with the technology at hand, to draw up a plan, and then run the plan, deploying the required assets.
‘Our guys are very good at what they do; they’ve been massively exposed to going out there and doing “the business”,’ says Operations Manager Charl Maritz. ‘Using tech is not foreign to them, but what we
want to do is up the level of excellence by bringing the science into search and rescue, and sharing these tools with our Class 1 stations across the country. There are ways of ensuring you have effective search area coverage. It takes time, resources and energy to conduct a search, and by doing a couple of precalculated procedures, you raise the efficacy of the search, cut down the time searching, and reduce the time casualties may be in the water,’ he explains.
KNOWLEDGE + TECH
The training conducted to date has involved groups of 12, usually senior crew or crew with a strong aptitude for search and rescue, and has been run over a weekend. ‘We’ve been covering new tools, like drift buoys, teaching crew to use the two apps, SearchWell and SARMarc, developed by volunteers Marilyn Wells (Station 26, Kommetjie) and Marc de Vos (Station 3, Table Bay) respectively. We also discuss the heuristics of searching [the human ability to problem-solve based on past experience
Drfit buoys are a valuable tool in searches. They can be placed at the last known location of the casualty to establish a drift pattern.
and reasoning], which we shouldn’t take for granted – how we move our heads, use our eyes – when conducting searches,’ Graeme adds. ‘There is so much that goes into it. And so much experience held by senior crew that needs to be shared with the younger guys, otherwise it gets lost. We also have to remember that one of the reasons the NSRI is regarded as being such a professional organisation is because no one has local area knowledge like our guys do. They know the coastlines like the back of their hands. So, really, this training is taking what the guys already know and building it up with tech expertise.’
Drift buoys are an excellent tool for measuring drift patterns. ‘If, for example, a diver goes missing, we can place the buoy in the location they were last known to be, and we can track what the drift is doing over the next while. We can then set up our search pattern based on the data. By deploying a drift buoy, you can potentially reduce your search area by 60%,’ Graeme explains.
‘SafeTRX is a good starting point for rescue, but sometimes we go in blind; that’s just a part of our world,’ he adds.
‘If, for example, a diver goes missing, we can place the buoy in the location they were last known to be, and we can track what the drift is doing over the next while. We can then set up our search pattern based on the data.’
USING THE TOOLS
SearchWell and SARMarc are what we want the stations to use as planning tools before anyone leaves the harbour walls, says Charl. ‘This tech involves particle drift simulations. You plug 100 different particles into your calculator. They follow the same baseline current and wind data over time, which are the two main factors that would influence the drift of the casualty, but each one behaves differently. This is where casualty (person[s] and/or vessel) behaviour comes into play. A vessel that is upright will behave differently to one that has capsized; a life raft with a drogue may remain static; and a surfboard will float quite freely. Drift particles then create a fan spread, some of which will end up in the same location, so you can create searching hotspots,’ he explains. (See image below.)
Another consideration is the self-rescue scenario, one which Graeme believes could be fatal. ‘When you start swimming, you’re taking yourself away from where you should be. Going from a “possible” to a “not probable”. Just because the current and wind are going in one direction, it doesn’t mean the casualty is going the same way. We have to say, this is where they should be going, but if they have decided to swim, we
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Training always includes the extra challenge of night searches, simulating real-life rescue scenarios as much as possible.
have to ask what’s the closest point of land; if they were going to swim to land, where would they go, and we need to put that into our search area as well.’
Both SearchWell and SARMarc can generate Google Earth KML files, which when overlaid with Nautical Charts (naval hydrography maps) allow transparency changes between the chart and Google Earth. Once the generated search patterns, search box and search parametres have been inputted, these can be viewed live by the person planning the search. KML files can be shared between WhatsApp users, and the coxswain can then integrate it into their plotter.
SCENARIO PLANNING AND EXERCISE
Once the trainers have covered the theory, crew are split into teams and given a scenario together with the charts. Each group must devise a plan for their search and present it to the whole group. A decision is then made on which plan would be the most effective. ‘Then we run a search scenario on the boats. We put a test dummy in a particular location in the water at 2pm; then at dusk the teams launch to go find it. We give them the last known location of the “man overboard”, and they need to use everything they’ve learnt to go search for and find it,’ explains Graeme.
‘The exposure and testing are the real challenge and the main objective,’ adds Charl. ‘They have to take it seriously, deploy the assets needed, and manage the search and rescue, whatever the weather, it doesn’t matter. And it’s at night,’ he says. ‘There are big smiles and high fives when they find their man overboard. It’s quite refreshing to see that. Whether it took them a long time or they found it quite quickly, it opens their eyes. Maybe they struggled a bit, but they succeeded by using the tools at hand. And by doing so, they’ve updated their knowledge. It’s invigorating and very positive for them.’
The training team has been delighted by the reception and reaction from the stations that have completed the course.
‘We’ve also learnt things along the way,’ Charl says. ‘Of course, there are teething problems, but we fine-tune as we go along. Each station we’ve trained at brings something different to the training, which is quite energising.’
Michelle Roos was introduced to the NSRI as a child. She couldn’t wait to join, and in the seven years she’s been a volunteer, she has done remarkable things. By Wendy Maritz
FILLING THE BIG SHOES
Driven, smart, fearless and compassionate are some of the words one could use to describe Michelle Roos, a Class 4 coxswain at Mossel Bay. But we also need to add that she is passionate about people and the ocean, about ‘never stopping’ in her quest to learn, teach and gain experiences and knowledge. And she’s just 21.
Michelle’s dad, JC Roos, the current station commander, joined the NSRI in 2008, and at the age of six, she tagged along whenever she could. She got a taste of the volunteer life and the vibe at the station. ‘I was pretty young when I started going to the station, but as soon as I reached an age where I knew what Sea Rescue was about and understood what the volunteers do, my goal was to join them. You can join as junior crew at 15, and that’s what I did,’ she says.
That was in 2017 and seven years later, Michelle confirms she just loves volunteering and everything it has taught her, and what she has been able to teach others. Aside from her dad, she is quick to mention Dawie Zwiegelaar, a longtime volunteer at the station, as being one of her greatest teachers. Oom Dawie, as she
refers to him, has been a special mentor on station. ‘I feel honoured to serve at the station with him. I still look up to him, especially as a young coxswain “growing into the big shoes” he and the other senior crew are leaving for us,’ she says.
Deputy station commander Kelly Fourie is another crew member Michelle mentions as having had an impact on her. It’s not surprising, as Kelly and Michelle did their coxswain assessments together and were the first Mossel Bay female crew members in 35 years to achieve Class 4 status. ‘This was a big step for the station!’ Next up for Michelle is qualifying as a Class 3 coxswain; she is planning to work her way up to Class 1. In the meantime, she attended an electronic navigation systems and maritime extrication course at the NSRI’s Volunteer Support Centre in Cape Town.
Her passion for training and teaching is also evident. She attended a swift-water training course in 2021. ‘That was strenuous,’ she recalls, ‘but also fantastic.’ Now she is a member of the training committee at the station, plans, preps and gives lectures, including on swift-water rescue.
The crew was put to the test in October 2023, when they received a callout to assist
83 employees of a local business who were stranded and unable to return home after the Brandwag River flooded at Geelbeksvlei near Hartenbos. ‘We towed our JetRIB, very aware we would be losing light as it was late in the day.’ In the end, through a concerted effort between the NSRI, Eden Lifesaving, various SAPS departments, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue, and Disaster Risk Management, all 83 people were safely transported using the JetRIB and three (one of which was private) pencil duck rescue craft. ‘That was a big one for our station,’ she says
Another memorable callout for Michelle was the rescue of a Frans Smit who, while fishing, was washed off the rocks at Cape St Blaize in Mossel Bay in May this year. Beachgoers had witnessed events unfolding, and police diver Andries Louw
‘Nothing beats the feeling of saving lives and bringing people home.’
was quick to react, donning a wetsuit and flippers and grabbing a Pink Rescue Buoy to swim to Frans’s aid. Michelle, the duty coxswain for the day, was at the station giving training, and received a call to be on standby with the JetRIB. After Kelly gave the go-ahead, she and crew member Christiaan Stopforth launched, and went to assist. ‘When people get washed off rocks, their instinct is to try to get back to those rocks, but that’s where the danger is. Andries knew to swim the man out to sea, which is safer. This is what saved his life. And we were able to pick them up there.’ With rescue work, some callouts have frustrating or sad conclusions. Volunteers
From left: Christiaan Stopforth, Warrant Officer Andries Louw (SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services), Frans Smit and Michelle Roos. Frans was rescued by Andries, Michelle and Christiaan.
want to bring people home; this is not always possible but the station is there as a support network.
‘There are those “bad” callouts and recoveries, but once we needed to medevac a patient from a cruise liner 5nm outside of the harbour. The evacuation was a challenging one, but the patient recovered well in hospital. The captain of the liner was so grateful that he invited us for a breakfast onboard followed by a tour. That was a really nice acknowledgement,’ she smiles.
‘But nothing beats the feeling of saving lives and bringing people home.’
With her commitment to volunteering and Station 15, one has to ask if she has time for anything else. Michelle does have a day job running a family-owned skippers’ school, where she is a SAMSA-appointed facilitator. She’s currently completing her Advanced Personal Trainer and Nutritionist Diploma and is planning to go into project management in the near future.
You’re not going to stop anytime soon, I ask. The answer, of course, is ‘No’.
Scan the QR code and watch the rescue unfold.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The Otter Trail offers a few challenges, not least the Bloukrans River crossing! By
Cherelle Leong
The Otter Trail is one of South Africa’s most iconic hiking trails, and one of its attractions is that you can disconnect from modern-day life and enjoy the splendour of nature. There’s no cellphone signal along the route, huts are rustic, and you have to take your own gear with you for the full five days.
As much as it can be a wonderful hiking experience, novice hikers are sometimes ill-prepared for the terrain and distance that they have to cover each day. This includes boulder-hopping and traversing rocky crags on the shoreline, climbing steep contours
through coastal forests and crossing rivers, including the infamous Bloukrans River at the point where it enters the sea. This can be a particularly challenging crossing, depending on the season and tides.
It was exactly at this crossing where a group of hikers discovered that, even at low tide, the Bloukrans River is not to be underestimated. While attempting to cross the river, two young women were swept out to sea on the outgoing tide. Fortunately, they were able to use their backpacks for flotation and then scramble up onto the rocks of a reef about 300m from the river mouth.
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The rest of the group had watched helplessly as the two were swept out to sea. But seeing the women on the reef and above the water, they knew that they were temporarily safe. This would buy some time to call for help. With no cellphone signal at the river mouth where the incident occurred, one of the hikers had to walk a distance up one of the escape routes to call for help.
The call came through to Oyster Bay shore controller Charles Hutchins at approximately 07h40 from SANParks. Because of the remote location, it was decided to deploy NSRI rescue swimmers to hike down to the Bloukrans River mouth, together with the SANParks rangers. At the same time, NSRI Oyster Bay prepared to launch its 7.3m RIB in the event that a seabased rescue would be the only option.
It was fortunate that the sea conditions were relatively calm and flat that day. Even then, it would have taken NSRI Oyster Bay at least 90 minutes to
travel the 50 nautical miles up the coast to where the incident had taken place. Usually, they would have towed their 5.5m RIB to Storms River Mouth and launched from there. But with the Storms River slipway under construction, this was not possible.
When the four rescue swimmers arrived on scene, they called in to discuss their plan. The sea conditions were favourable enough that they deemed it safe to attempt to swim out to the casualties. While the reef that they were stranded on was approximately 300m from shore, there were two smaller reefs in between.
Equipped with ropes, spare lifejackets and helmets, three of the rescue swimmers prepared to swim out to the reef, while the fourth remained on shore to keep watch and maintain communications with the base.
Swimming between the reefs, the rescue swimmers quickly made their way out to the casualties. The two women were in good spirits and uninjured. Despite admitting that they couldn’t swim, they felt confident that, with lifejackets on, and accompanied by the three NSRI rescue swimmers, they could make it back to shore.
For additional safety, a short line was attached between each casualty and rescue swimmer. This would enable the rescue swimmers to maintain contact with the casualties while leaving their hands free to swim and assist the casualties. One at a time, they were swum across the gully between the reefs to the shoreline,
Safe and sound. Rescue swimmers with the two hikers who were swept out to sea at the Bloukrans River.
where SANParks rangers and the rest of their group assisted them on to the rocks. Once the casualties were safely returned to their group, the rescue swimmers recovered their hiking packs. While these were waterlogged, the rest of the group had enough dry clothing for them. After the casualties were checked for injuries and confirmed to be unharmed, they said that they would like to continue with the hike.
As the rescue progressed, weather conditions started to change. It had been a calm start to the morning, but now the wind started picking up, creating choppy conditions on the incoming tide. Approximately 25 minutes after the rescue had been concluded, the rocks on which the casualties had perched were swamped by the high tide. Had the rescue swimmers not reached them in time to get them to shore, they may have been swept further out to sea. Without any form of flotation, this could have proven fatal.
The group’s quick action in raising the alarm meant the stranded hikers were assisted in time. The fact that the women remained calm and managed to get onto the reef, despite not being able to swim, played a big part in their survival – and in them being able to continue on the hike.
This rescue was the most recent of 17 hiker rescues in which NSRI Oyster Bay has been involved in the past year. While Oyster Bay is a relatively small station, operating with two satellite stations at Storms River Mouth and Eerste Rivier Strand, they cover a coastline of 180km. Their area of operation stretches from Cape St Francis in the east to Nature’s Valley in the west.
Of this only 6km is sandy beach, the rest is rocky shoreline, characterised by steep cliffs that are remote and mostly inaccessible by vehicle. For almost 90% of their land-based operations Sea Rescue Oyster Bay has to drive long distances on gravel roads before hiking into areas where casualties are located. Because of the nature of the terrain, flash floods are common – a real danger for hikers as water levels can rise quickly after a sudden downpour. Oyster Bay station commander Lodewyk van Rensberg believes that an essential piece of safety equipment is an inflatable PFD (personal flotation device). This will make river crossings safer for all on the trail.
In this incident, the women were fortunate that conditions were relatively calm when they were swept out to sea, and that their backpacks provided enough flotation until they could scramble up onto the reef. Had they not made it to the reef, their packs would have become waterlogged and no longer have enough buoyancy to keep them on top of the water. A PFD, on the other hand, would have kept them afloat.
While the Otter Trail is a beautiful coastal hike, it covers challenging terrain and requires a good level of fitness and agility. Its remoteness is one of its attractions, but when things go wrong, it takes longer to raise the alarm and for rescue services to get to casualties. Hikers who prepare well improve the odds of having an enjoyable and successful hike. While Sea Rescue is always on standby to assist, hikers can reduce the number of incidents by doing detailed trail research before setting out, and being adequately equipped and properly prepared.
HIKING SAFETY
Cherelle Leong chats to Hout Bay and Oyster Bay station commanders about the requirements for coastal hiking safety.
Trained in both swift water rescue and operating along rocky coastlines, Sea Rescue volunteers are frequently called to assist hikers stranded on coastal hiking trails. There are a number of hot spots where these rescues take place, namely Hout Bay in Cape Town, as well as Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, and the Otter and Tsitsikamma hiking trails on the Garden Route. These areas are home to spectacularly beautiful coastlines, characterised by rocky crags and breathtaking coastal scenery.
Hiking is a popular activity. The problem is that routes are often promoted for their beauty, while the
technicality and risks of the trails are downplayed. Unaware and inadequately prepared, hikers may get lost, injured or stuck. With no way to progress, an SOS goes out.
Since January 2021 Hout Bay NSRI has conducted 17 rescues on the relatively short trail that runs from Llandudno along the Atlantic coast to Hout Bay. Oyster Bay has carried out even more in the last year on the popular Otter and Tsitsikamma hiking trails.
We chatted to station commanders Spencer Oldham and Lodewyk van Rensberg from Hout Bay and Oyster Bay respectively on what hikers should do when preparing to hike.
CELLPHONES AND COVERAGE
Don’t assume that you’ll have cellphone signal on the trail. In fact, most of the Otter Trail is without connectivity and you need to hike up quite a distance on one of the escape routes to get a signal. If an area of the trail doesn’t have coverage, switch off the phone until you need to use it. This is to conserve battery power.
Make sure that your phone is fully charged before setting out and that you have a backup charging device in case your battery runs flat. Remember that if you’re using a tracking app, it will diminish the battery life of your phone. This is where a backup is handy. If possible, have more than one fully charged cellphone with you.
PLAN FOR CHANGING WEATHER
Check the weather forecast and tides before setting out. This is especially
GET ACCURATE ROUTE INFO
Don’t rely on online resources, especially social media, for route info. These are often outdated and inaccurate. Instead get information from local hiking groups, communities or people who have done the trail and know the trail conditions. Remember that routes can get overgrown or washed away. Best option is to hire a local guide if possible.
important on coastal trails where high tides can make sections of the trail impassable. Remember that weather is very changeable on coastal trails. It can go from sunny and warm to cold and windy within hours. If it’s been raining, be aware that flash floods can occur. If a river appears higher than normal, don’t attempt to cross; rather backtrack and get to higher ground.
PACK FOR EMERGENCIES
Accidents can happen to even the most seasoned hikers, but the better prepared you are, the better off you will be when things don’t go as planned. Even in summer, have a rainproof jacket and an extra thermal layer too. These can be lifesaving if you are stranded for any length of time.
When it’s possible, practical and safe, NSRI crew will perform a coastal hike rescue from the sea side.
In your pack, take at least 1.5 litres of water per person per day, as well as enough food and snacks to keep yourself fuelled. A space blanket, whistle, visual signalling device (mirror and torch), and duct tape are some of the most basic emergency necessities aside from a cellphone and protective clothing.
On the Otter and Tsitsikamma trails there are multiple water crossings. Sometimes they are ankle deep; sometimes you’ll need to swim across. Use an inflatable flotation device and cross in pairs with at least one person who is a strong swimmer. Plan carefully to make your crossing on an incoming low tide to minimise risks.
DON’T GO IT ALONE
It’s never safe to hike alone. The smallest accident can result in a tragedy if you’re knocked unconscious and have no way to call for help. But even if you’re hiking in a group, let someone know where you’re going, when you’re setting out and when you’re expected back. Also check in with them along the way and let them know when you’re safely home.
An alternative is to use a tracking app such as NSRI’s SafeTRX which also has an SOS feature you can activate if you need to call for help.
If, despite all these preparations, something goes wrong, try to phone for help immediately. It takes time to activate rescue services and if it’s already getting late in the day, you want to start the process quickly. Give as much detail as possible on what’s happened, how many people are involved, where you are and what everyone’s condition is.
If it’s not safe to stay where you are and it’s possible to move injured persons, get to a safe location first before dropping a pin. Once you’ve given your location, try not to move from there –that is where rescuers will go to first.
Most importantly, stay calm and stay together. This is especially important if someone is injured as there is the risk of them going into shock. Protect yourselves from the elements by finding shelter or huddling together under a space blanket. Conserve your energy and your resources, and check in with everyone often to make sure they’re ok. Know that if you’ve been able to make contact with rescue services, they’re on their way and every effort will be made to find and help you.
POP! MAKES ITS APPEARANCE
NSRI and Fluidra South Africa have piloted a new type of swimming pool for its Survival Swimming programme. Named POP!, the pool was launched at Pineview Primary School in Grabouw in the Western Cape earlier this year. Unlike the four previous Survival Swimming Centres (SSCs) which are housed in shipping containers, the POP! is an above-ground, outdoor swimming pool. They are less expensive to produce and the NSRI is testing the waters to see how successfully these can be rolled out to teach as many children and adults as possible during the summer months.
The NSRI acknowledges the support provided by Fluidra since the outset of the SSC project. ‘They have been phenomenal,’ says Communications Manager Andrew Ingram, who has been working closely with Simoné van der Merwe from Fluidra SA.
‘For the past two years, our collaboration with Andrew and his team has been marked by unwavering professionalism and dedication,’ says Simoné. ‘They have created a secure environment for teaching underprivileged children how to swim, ultimately saving lives. The POP! pool, generously donated by Fundació Fluidra, a foundation conceived as a natural step forward in Fluidra’s commitment to society, has been expertly transformed into a safe swimming facility by Andrew and his team. We eagerly anticipate the growth of this initiative and its potential expansion to other underserved regions.’
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR: ZAKARIYYAA ABRAHAMS
ZAKARIYYAA Abrahams has been a volunteer at Station 16 (Strandfontein) for five years. It seemed an almost inevitable progression from lifesaving which, he says, he’s been involved in ‘all his life’ and from having a father at the station. ‘I grew up on the boats; it’s a part of our lives,’ he says. Zak is a Class 4 coxswain and rescue swimmer, and more recently decided to join the Drowning Prevention department as a
Zak Abrahams instructs pupils from Pineview Primary School in Grabouw in the POP! pool.
Water Safety facilitator and Survival Swimming instructor. ‘One of the first callouts I did as a volunteer was the recovery of an 11-year-old child,’ Zak recalls. ‘Instructing children is one way of saving them before an incident. By volunteering as a rescuer and instructing, you get to see both sides of the story,’ he says. ‘It becomes more personal.’
Zak has given water safety lessons at various schools in Grassy Park and Retreat in Cape Town and the public swimming pools in these areas are the venues where they hold the Survival Swimming lessons.
‘When I’m teaching, I give it my all. If I can get one kid to swim, then they have a chance.’
Zakariyyaa Abrahams
The project at Grabouw came up and he was selected to go. ‘I was there for three months,’ he says. ‘That pool is a great initiative, and I could see it made a big difference to the children having it there. It really created a vibe at the school.’
Zak admits he is a very hands-on teacher. He realises the children are sometimes scared, but he tries not to give them a chance to feel afraid. ‘I reassure them, I talk to them one-on-one, tell them we’re going to concentrate on small goals, one step at a time. Then, after they have taken the first step, they have a bit more confidence to take the next step.’ It also helps when they see their
peers succeeding and overcoming their fears. ‘Every child is different; the aim is to get the kids water safe and they have to learn in their own time. It might take them forever to get used to putting their faces in the water, for instance.’
Zak says the pool is excellent for teaching children – it’s long enough, and they can move around freely. ‘The children I worked with made good progress; some were even getting the hang of breaststroke and backstroke,’ he says.
‘When I’m teaching, I give it my all. If I can get one kid to swim, then they have a chance. I will make sure that child can hold their own in the water. And I will tell them how and why what I’m teaching them will benefit them. I tell them, “You’ve got this skill for life.”’
Zak will return to Pineview Primary School later in the year, this time to train another Survival Swimming instructor, who will be someone from the area.
Zak’s enthusiasm and passion for what he does is infectious. Having grown up around water and boats, he learnt to swim as a matter of course. And perhaps many of us who can swim take it for granted. Not Zak. ‘We have skills that we must share. We can’t keep them to ourselves.’
Hikers’ reunion: On Saturday 24 February 2024, Hout Bay volunteers were shown appreciation in a unique way. Three hikers who’d been rescued in December hosted a braai, complete with drinks, cake and an impromptu serenade for them. It was a great opportunity to get to know the casualties, who were effusive about their appreciation of Skymed, the NSRI and the crew.
CELEBRATE A LIFE, SAVE A LIFE
What is Celebrate a Life?
The NSRI is currently building the next Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) which is destined for NSRI Gqeberha.
For a donation of R1 000, you can add your name or that of someone you wish to celebrate to this rescue craft. By Celebrating A Life you can save lives and have a lasting legacy that will continue for many years to come.
NSRI volunteers risk their lives to save others and now you can be a part of their lifesaving journey. By adding a name to the next NSRI ORC, you are not only celebrating a life but also becoming an emblem of hope for those in peril at sea.
The names will be inscribed on the side of the rescue craft’s cabin and each time our volunteer crew launch to save lives, the people they represent are symbolically right by their side.
This innovative French-designed rescue craft, now constructed entirely in South Africa, accommodates six volunteer
rescuers in shock-mitigating seats, allowing for high-speed, long-distance rescue operations in difficult sea conditions and can carry up to 23 survivors. Each vessel costs an estimated R22 million and your contribution ensures that we can continue our vital work, providing the necessary equipment and training to our dedicated rescue teams.
What do you get?
Your special person’s name on this boat.
A personalised digital certificate to print and display.
An invitation to the boat blessing to see your loved one’s name on the rescue craft.
Knowing that you and your loved one are part of a worthy cause and that you are helping to save lives.
A thank you letter from the NSRI and a SARS 18A tax certificate to claim a tax deduction.
For more information, visit www.nsri. org.za/support-us/donate.
MYKONOS GOLF DAY
CLUB Mykonos has been an incredible supporter of NSRI Mykonos, welcoming the rescue base and crew into the community and supporting them in various ways. In March this year, Club Mykonos hosted a charity golf day in aid of the rescue base.
The day was incredibly well supported by Langebaan and the surrounding community as well as Club Mykonos and NSRI supporters from further afield. With a full field of players, the day raced by with varied success for the golfers. Some brought their A-game, while others took the opportunity to try the game for the first time. There were bucket loads of laughs and a full day of team spirit.
After a day on the golf course, everyone gathered at Kapstadt Brauhaus, Club Mykonos, for an auction, raffle and prize-giving.
‘We are really grateful for all the support that Club Mykonos and the surrounding community has shown us over the years. It is amazing to see how much people
The successful event raised more than R174 000 for Station 4 (Mykonos).
appreciate what NSRI Mykonos does, and it is a very special feeling to know that our rescue base is appreciated in such a way. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and effort to make the Club Mykonos Golf Day such a huge success. Thank you also to each individual and company who supported the day by taking part or donating prizes. Your support is really appreciated,’ said station commander Nic Stevens. Over R174 000 was raised for the station. Next year’s golf day will take place in April and is slated to be even bigger and better than this year’s event. Keep an eye on social media for information leading up to the 2025 event.
RENEWED
PLATINUM PARTNERSHIP
WITH I&J
I&J has been a long-standing Platinum Partner of the NSRI. They’ve donated a number of rescue craft, built a state-ofthe-art rescue station in Cape Town Harbour, and supported the NSRI’s Drowning Prevention and Survival Swimming programmes. I&J recently renewed their Platinum Partnership for 2024/2025 and also visited the newly refurbished rescue base in the V&A Waterfront. We thank them for their invaluable support, helping to facilitate our life-saving work.
PLATINUM PARTNERS
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
GOLD PARTNERS
A&M Logistics (Pty) Ltd / African Marine Solutions Group (Pty) Ltd / Applied Mineral Technologies (Pty) Ltd / Barpro Storage SA (Pty) Ltd / Bearfish (Pty) Ltd / Denso (Pty) Ltd / Denys Edwardes (Pty) Ltd / Hoegh Autoliners (Pty) Ltd / Life Health Solutions / MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping (Pty) Ltd / Marlyn Vulindlela (Pty) Ltd / Mix Telematics International (Pty) Ltd / Richards Bay Coal Terminal (Pty) Ltd / Ruwekus Fishing (Pty) Ltd / Two Oceans Aquarium Trust
OCEANA GROUP RENEWS PLATINUM PARTNERSHIP
IN MAY this year the Oceana Group’s CEO Neville Brink and his executive team were presented with a certificate symbolising the renewal of their Platinum Partnership with the NSRI at the Table Bay base.
‘One of Sea Rescue’s mandates is looking after the fishing and maritime industries, and it’s a logical fit that Oceana and the NSRI support each other,’ said NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson.
‘The Oceana Group has had a long-standing partnership with the NSRI, and been a Platinum Partner for 11 years,’ said Brink. ‘We will remain partners for as long as I am around and, I am sure, long after that. It is a privilege for us to partner with you.’
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Oceana Group for their unwavering support.
GOPRO FOR STRANDFONTEIN
Reviewing training and rescues is a vital part of training, and the best way to do this is by recording sessions and callouts. Station 45 (Strandfontein) on the West Coast is in need of a GOPRO for this purpose. If you can assist by buying one or donating towards one, please email renee@searescue.org.za.
THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF: Mark Koen, John Shire, Zetta Wollheim, Rick Crosier, Glenda Helene Jones, James Wood, Luke Slabber, Barry Bruce, Anderson, Heather Frantz. IN HONOUR OF: Ms Brynn Gericke (50th birthday), Mr and Mrs Paul Davis (Golden Wedding Anniversary), Mrs Chiappini (80th birthday), Mr John Biesman-Simons (70th birthday), Mr David Robins (70th birthday), Mr Steven Frankal (60th birthday)
2024 AGM & AWARDS EVENING
Celebrating remarkable acts of bravery and service at the 2024 NSRI AGM & Awards Evening
On Friday, 19 July, the NSRI held its 57th Annual Awards Evening and AGM at the Capital Zimbali in Ballito. This event was a heartfelt celebration of our devoted volunteers and other courageous individuals who selflessly risked their lives to rescue others on South African waters. We honoured their unwavering commitment and extraordinary acts of bravery, acknowledging the vital role they play in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those in peril on the water.
BRAVERY AWARDS
Gold
For their selfless actions during the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods
• Jace Govender • Ryan Hansen
• Leon Fourie
Bronze
• Nehan Pretorious for his courageous actions on 21 December 2023, when he went to assist a fellow surfer who had suffered a seizure and fallen off his board.
GALLANTRY AWARDS
Gold
For their courageous actions during the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, 11-13 April 2022.
Kevin Fourie, Quentin Power, Johan Muller, Travis Clarke and Tyron Brennan.
• Kevin Fourie • Travis Clarke • Quentin Power • Tyron Brennan • Johan Muller
Silver
For their heroic actions during the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, 11-13 April 2022
• Leslie Ginsberg • Clifford Ireland
• Kyle Meyer • Sean Dickie • Sean Devine
• Luke van Riet, Station 2 (Bakoven), for the courage, determination and skill exhib-
Jace Govender Nehan Pretorius
ited during the callout that rescued 11 fishermen from their sinking vessel in force 10 storm conditions on 20-21 October 2023.
Bronze
For their brave efforts during the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, 11-13 April 2022.
• Timothy Edwards • Andrea Passoni
• Etienne van Zyl • Deon Dekker
• Jazmynn Eksteen • Dean Birnie
• Jonathan Kellermann
• Robert Leusink (accepted by David Rosenberg), Reece Sheldon and Jacobus Johannes Le Roux, Station 2 (Bakoven), for their bravery, determination and expertise during the callout that rescued 11 fishermen from their sinking vessel in force 10 storm conditions on 20-21 October 2023.
• JC Roos for his courage and determination during a rescue operation to save survivors of Dijaanda at the Gourits River mouth on 8 August 2023.
DIRECTORS LETTER OF THANKS
• Adrian Fransman for his fearless deeds during the severe floods from 11-13 April 2022 in KwaZulu-Natal.
CEO’S LETTER OF THANKS
For the bravery, leadership, camaraderie, courage and dedication displayed during the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal.
• Malcolm Manion • Mbongiseni Miya
• Cara Eksteen • Brendon Ferrar
• Siyabonga Mthethwa • Dean Wegerle
• Michael Bishop • Reese Hendrikz
• Justin de Swardt
HIGGINS AND LANGLEY MEMORIAL AWARD
The international Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards are presented to individuals, teams and agencies that demonstrate outstanding achievements, skills, and/or preparedness in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue.
Leslie Ginsberg
JC Roos
Jazmynn Eksteen
Mbongiseni Miya
Left to right: Mike Bishop (Ballito), Kevin Fourie (Rocky Bay), Clifford Ireland (Regional Representative), Gary Wolmarans (Shelly Beach), Roy Wienand (Durban)
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS
For their valiant and heroic actions during the catastrophic floods in KwaZulu-Natal 11-13 April 2022.
• Stephanie Wickham • Benic van der Merwe • Nicky Gibson (accepted by Travis Clarke) • Linda Putter • START Team • Jarrod Garber • Dion Beneke
• Matthew Dickey • Wayne Nicholson
• Ana Antunes • Thomas Steenkamp • Stacey Rudolph • Janine Rudolph • Roy Wienand • Amy Coetzee
Station 2 (Bakoven) and Station 3 (Table Bay) for the bravery, determination and expertise demonstrated during the callout that assisted 11 fishermen from their sinking vessel in force 10 storm conditions on 20-21 October 2023.
• Gert du Plessis and Gary Wolmarans, from Station 32 (Port Edward) and Station 20 (Shelly Beach) respectively, for the extraordinary courage, determination and skill shown during a challenging operation that rescued four crew members from the sinking yacht Tipsy off the Eastern Cape coastline on 24 May 2024
MOST IMPROVED STATION OF THE YEAR
Station 26 (Kommetjie)
BEST RIB STATION OF THE YEAR
Station 40 (St Lucia)
PAT O’SULLIVAN TROPHY
Station 4 (Mykonos)
Station 2 (Bakoven)
Station commander Dave Smith receives the award
Station commander Jan Hofman receives the award
Station commander Nic Stevens receives the award
MARMION MARSH AWARD
Bruce Bodmer
Bruce joined the NSRI in January 1984 at Station 8 (Hout Bay) and rose to become a highly capable Class I coxswain. His dedication to training and crew safety was evident in his refinement of seamanship courses and his contributions to the Coxswain Training and Assessment, which evolved into the current Coxswains Assessment courses.
ALRIC SIMPSON AWARD
Barbara Stewart of the V&A Waterfront.
The Alric Simpson Floating Trophy, awarded annually, goes to the V&A Waterfront and its staff. This honour recognises their historical and ongoing contributions.
LONG SERVICE AWARDS
20 years
• David Rosenberg • Marc van Staden
• Robbie Gibson • Glenda Maritz
• Wally Maritz • Jake Manten
• James Beaumont • Willem de Waal
• Enrico Menezies
25 years and Honorary Life Members
Lyall Pringle • Otto Rodenberg
30 years
• John Brown • Brian Brink
• Garth Shamley
Outgoing CEO Cleeve Robertson was recognised for his achievements at the NSRI with the Volunteer Support Centre now being named in his honour.
35 years
• Dr Cleeve Robertson • Eddie Noyons
• Christopher van Staden • Deon Truter 40 years
• Geoffrey Mcgregor • George Parkes
• Bruce Bodmer • Dorian Robertson
• Kathy and Dicky Manten (accepted by Andre Kruger) • Michael Elliot • David Robins (accepted by Dr Cleeve Robertson)
50 years
• Ian Wienburg (accepted by Eddie Noyons)
• Marty Reddering
A special thank you to our MC for the night, Mark Bayly, the Capital Zimbali for hosting the event, La Montagne and The Boathouse in Ballito for accommodating our guests, M&B for the decor, Airbus Company for the shuttle service, Andrew Ingram for the photography and Boom Media and Pulp Films for capturing the event in video.
ARMADILLOS OF THE SEA
We take a deep dive into the fascinating world of chitons –not quite the armoured knights of the deep, but noble nevertheless. By naturalist Georgina Jones
Chitons, or coat-of-mail shells, are easy to miss. They live anywhere from rockpools to the deep sea, but they’re slow-moving, tend to hide under rocks, and though some can be nearly half a metre in length, they’re generally smaller than 5cm long. Their name comes from the eight overlapping articulated shell plates
that form their main means of defence against moisture loss when exposed to air, and predators. The shell plates are embedded in a muscular girdle that forms the margins of the chitons’ bodies. If dislodged from their rock or other hard surface, chitons will behave like the armadillos they are also named for, and roll up into a defensive ball. The articulation between the shell plates also makes it possible for chitons to navigate uneven terrain. As extra protection, the girdles may be covered with tough scales, irritant hairs or spines. So, though chitons can be eaten by a wide range of animals, they’re generally low on any predator’s preferred meals list.
Chitons themselves are mostly herbivorous, using their long scraping tongues to rasp away at plant matter –some, like the local giant chiton, will lift the front ends of their bodies up over drift seaweed and then drop down onto it, the easier to trap part of the seaweed for consumption. Some Pacific chitons have adapted this trick to catch small shrimps and sometimes even unwary fishes.
They have a long gut to help with processing hard-to-digest seaweeds and
OPPOSITE Giant chitons are usually seen half-buried in sand. LEFT Orange hairy chitons, as their name suggests, have short hairs embedded in their girdles to deter predators. BELOW Most of the armour and the scaled girdle of a tulip chiton.
the intertidal species generally wait until the tide rises to flush wastes away.
The sexes are separate and fertilization is external: male and female chitons will release eggs and sperm into the water, and once fertilization occurs, a characteristic molluscan larval form develops. In one of the local species, the eggs are kept under the female’s girdle and brooded until the larvae develop into minute replicas of the adult.
When it comes to their senses, however, chitons are distinctly unusual. For starters they lack a brain, or, strictly speaking, a cerebral ganglion. So it’s not known for sure how their behaviours are directed.
They have a chemosensory organ near their tongues that is involved with assessing the nature of the substrate they
are in contact with and what food, if any, is around them. They also have organs only found in chitons known as aesthetes. These are light-sensitive cells just below the surface of the shell plates that must be constantly replaced as the shells are worn away by wave action and moving detritus.
In some species, the aesthetes are modified into ocelli, clusters of photoreceptive cells lying beneath an aragonite-based lens. Ocelli found in most other animals are made from proteins, but aragonite is one of the three mineral forms of calcium carbonate, and is a better material for the eye of an animal that may spend a lot of its time exposed to either air or wave action. In addition, aragonite has two refractive indices, so a chiton can distinguish between light and dark both in and out of water.
As to whether chitons are able to see true images using their shell eyes, research is still inconclusive. The lenses are image-forming, and an individual chiton may have thousands of these structures. They can certainly tell the difference between a predator’s shadow and light changes caused by clouds.
The fossil record for chitons is relatively complete, so we know that ocelli were not present in chitons before 10 million years ago, though chitons have been present in the fossil record for around 500 million years. While individual light-sensitive cells have been present in chiton fossils for 400 million years, chiton ocelli clusters are most likely the most recent animal eyes to evolve.
Many species of chiton display homing behaviour, returning to their home patch of rock after foraging for food. Investigation of this behaviour so far suggests that they
may remember the physical characteristics of their home region and guide themselves home with memory and visual input from their ocelli. Possibly they use chemical cues and scent their way home, perhaps by having laid down chemicals as part of their route. Or, since the teeth on their tongues are made of magnetite, perhaps they are using the Earth’s magnetic field itself to return home.
We just don’t know.
And then there’s the still-mysterious evolutionary origin of molluscs as a whole. Some researchers have pointed to the eight-fold shell plates and the discovery of a deep ocean species with repeating body segments to suggest that chitons are the most ancient of the molluscs and that the group as a whole evolved from a segmented animal like an earthworm. But the molecular data are very difficult to interpret and the controversy remains. Meanwhile, the chitons use their ceramic eyes and magnetic teeth to pursue their quiet lives.
Spiny chitons are relatively common inhabitants of rockpools around the coast.
FISH TALES
quiz Quiz
Chitons are amazing creatures of the sea that move slowly and hide a lot.
Test your knowledge and see how many of the questions you can get right. Don’t peek at the answers.
1. What land animal does a chiton look like?
2. Where do they live?
3. What are they covered with?
4. What do they do to protect themselves from predators?
5. What do they have on their tongues?
Have some fun and colour the chiton in your favourite colours!
Find the words
See if you can find the following words: Armadillo Chiton Shell Scale Sea Wild Spine Seaweed Shrimp Ganglion Fossil
NSRI BASE LOCATIONS
The NSRI is manned by more than 1 369 volunteers at 131 service locations including rescue bases, satellite or auxiliary stations, inland dams and seasonal lifeguard units around the country.
Strandfontein (West Coast) Lambert’s Bay
NORTHERN CAPE
Town Strandfontein
Port
SSC 1: Riebeek Kasteel
SSC 5: Vredendal POP Pool 1: Grabouw
SSC 1: Meiring Primary School
SSC 2: Noah Christian Academy
SSC 3: Duduzile Junior Secondary School
SSC 4: Sponsored on show in Spain
SSC 5: Steilhoogte Primary School
POP Pool 1: Portable pool at Pineview Primary School, Grabouw
› Data projectors and speakers or flatscreen TVs for training
› GoPros or similar waterproof devices to film training sessions
› Good-quality waterproof binoculars
› Prizes for golf days and fundraising events
› Towels for casualties
› Groceries such as tea, coffee, sugar and cleaning materials
GENERAL NEEDS RESCUE BASES
› Long-life energy bars
› Wet and dry vacuum cleaners
› Dehumidifiers
› Small generators
› Good-quality toolkits
› Top-up supplies for medical kits
› Waterproof pouches for cellphones
› Tea cups/coffee mugs/glasses for events
NORTHERN CAPE
43 063 698 8971 Port Nolloth
WESTERN CAPE
45 066 586 7992 Strandfontein (Matzikama)
24 060 960 3027 Lambert’s Bay
44 082 990 5966 St Helena Bay
04 082 990 5966 Mykonos
34 082 990 5974 Yzerfontein
18 082 990 5958 Melkbosstrand
03 082 990 5963 Table Bay
02 082 990 5962 Bakoven
08 082 990 5964 Hout Bay
26 082 990 5979 Kommetjie
29 082 990 5980 Air Sea Rescue
10 082 990 5965 Simon’s Town
16 082 990 6753 Strandfontein
09 072 448 8482 Gordon’s Bay
42 063 699 2765 Kleinmond
17 082 990 5967 Hermanus
30 082 990 5952 Agulhas
33 082 990 5957 Witsand
31 082 990 5978 Still Bay
15 082 990 5954 Mossel Bay
23 082 990 5955 Wilderness
12 082 990 5956 Knysna
14 082 990 5975 Plettenberg Bay
EASTERN CAPE
46 076 100 2829 Storms River
36 082 990 5968 Oyster Bay
21 082 990 5969 St Francis Bay
37 079 916 0390 Jeffreys Bay
06 082 990 0828 Gqeberha
11 082 990 5971 Port Alfred
49 087 094 9774 Mdumbi (Aux)
47 076 092 2465 Kei Mouth (Aux)
07 082 990 5972 East London
28 082 550 5430 Port St Johns
KZN
32 082 990 5951 Port Edward
20 082 990 5950 Shelly Beach
39 072 652 5158 Rocky Bay
41 063 699 2687 Ballito
05 082 990 5948 Durban
50 082 990 5948 Umhlanga
19 082 990 5949 Richards Bay
40 063 699 2722 St Lucia
MPUMALANGA
35 060 962 2620 Witbank Dam
GAUTENG
27 060 991 9301 Gauteng
NORTH WEST
25 082 990 5961 Hartbeespoort Dam
FREE STATE
22 072 903 9572 Vaal Dam
51 082 757 2206 Gariep Dam
FOR DEPOSITS AND EFTS
ABSA Heerengracht
Branch code: 506 009
Account number: 1382480607
Account holder: National Sea Rescue Institute
Swift code: ABSA-ZA-JJ
PAY ONLINE: nsri.org.za/support-us/ donate
If you choose to do an EFT, please use your telephone number as a unique reference so that we are able to acknowledge receipt, or email your proof of payment to info@searescue.org.za.
Scan this QR code or visit the link below to pay using SnapScan. https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/ STB4C055
Please use your cellphone number as base/project reference so we can acknowledge your donation.
Scan this QR code or visit the link below to pay using Zapper. https://www.zapper.com/ url/KU1oB
Please use your cellphone number as base/project reference so we can acknowledge your donation.
