This month's stop...
South Africa
Story by Captain Paul Rugg, National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa
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This month's stop... South Africa Story by Captain Paul Rugg, National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa |
Located on the southern tip of
Africa, South Africa’s coastline extends from the Atlantic Ocean on the western side
to the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Though South Africa’s Navy has been around
since 1922, its National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was formed in 1967 following the
sinking of a fishing vessel on the Cape coast with the loss of all 17 on board because of
the unavailability of a rescue service. Efforts to start a sea rescue service were then
initiated by the letter-writing campaign of Pattie Price, who herself had once been
rescued by life boat from a foundering ship in the English Channel. In the 33 years since
its founding as the South African Inshore Sea Rescue Service, NSRI has grown considerably
into an organization that plays a major role on the South African coastline.
The NSRI plays an important role in the search and rescue organizations in South Africa. South Africa, with a population of 43.4 million people, is obliged by International Laws and Agreements to provide search and rescue facilities off it’s coastline in the event of aviation mishaps or maritime disasters. The Department of Transport and their marine division, the Maritime Safety Authority, can call on the services of the SANDT (Air Force and Navy), Portnet, several large marine salvage companies, private air and helicopter services and the NSRI.
 A five-meter rigid hull inflatable craft from the Wilderness Base (Station 23). |
The main NSRI office is in Cape Town with regional offices in Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and in Durban. Despite its steady growth, there are only 17 full-time paid staff members based at Headquarters in Cape Town and in smaller offices in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. Over 650 volunteer members, both men and women, from all walks of life work at 24 rescue bases located along the coastline and one inland. Crew members must be over 18, medically fit, good swimmers, have their own transport and work and live near rescue bases. Their local knowledge of their own waters and coastline is often the key to a successful rescue. High professional standards are required in seamanship, radio work, navigation, lifesaving, first aid, fire fighting, mechanics, helicopter operations, safety and survival at sea and search and rescue techniques. Senior crew are also skilled in search and rescue techniques, disaster management and control. Some crew members also go on to qualify as rescue divers and others as qualified paramedics. All duty crews carry radio pagers for a rapid rescue response and duty controllers also issued cellular telephones. |
Currently, the NSRI fleet stands at 52 rescue craft. These craft range from a 13-meter deep sea vessel down to a four-meter surf craft that can be deployed on a high-speed trailer.
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Auxillary Stations — Coffee Bay — Port St. Johns |
NSRI’s primary role is search and rescue along the coastline and up to 50 nautical miles seawards. Operations cover a wide spectrum and range from removing sick and injured merchant seamen and fishermen to assisting and rescuing yachtsmen, skiboat fishermen, divers, rock anglers and general swimmers washed out to sea along the dangerous South African coastline. The NSRI also teaches water and boating safety to schools, scout groups, yacht clubs and other service organizations. Groups of schoolchildren are given tours of the NSRI bases during which time its mission and equipment are thoroughly explained.
Since its inception, more than 10,120 rescue missions have been carried out that have resulted in the assisting and saving of over 17,650 lives. Also, 5,350 craft have been towed or assisted. The NSRI has been responsible for or involved in almost 97 percent of all sea rescues along the South African coastline. Of these rescues, 78 percent were small boat-related missions, 14 percent for fishing and merchant vessels while eight percent were for swimmers, animals and others. It is estimated that the cost for an average rescue is approximately R7,500 ($1,209 U.S. dollars).
NSRI is a registered section 21 company (non-profit) and, like New Zealand’s coastguard, holds fundraisers throughout the country. NSRI’s national budget for 1999 was close to R6.2 million ($1 million U.S. dollars). There is no other organization that could take NSRI’s place without extensive cost to the taxpayer. NSRI does receive an annual government grant (R300,000 or $48,387 U.S. dollars) as well as other smaller grants from municipalities throughout the country. Fuel grants accounted for 40 percent of NSRI’s cost in 1999 and other monies come in via donation appeals, from bequests, street collections, collection boats, sale of insignia and Christmas cards as well as other fundraising activities throughout the country. NSRI has also reinstated subscription membership to help increase funding.
As a changing South Africa looks to the future, the NSRI’s main aim is to solidify their present position and concentrate on improving the sea rescue activities along the coastline and to continue promoting water and boating safety both inland and offshore.