The National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) sixth Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) Rescue 6 has completed her maiden voyage from Cape Town to her home station in Gqeberha’s port of Port Elizabeth and arrived at 15:30 on September 25.
According to a statement by the NSRI, the vessel can carry up to 23 survivors and accommodate six volunteer rescue crew in shock-mitigating seats, allowing for high-speed operation in difficult sea conditions.
“At 14.8m long and 4.8m wide, it can be deployed as far as 50 nautical miles from land and has an expected lifespan of at least 40 years,” the statement read.
The statement said the Rescue 6’s delivery crew, made up of NSRI Training Manager Graeme Harding as delivery coxswain, outgoing NSRI CEO Dr. Cleeve Robertson, NSRI Executive Director Mark Hughes, and three Gqeberha volunteer crew members, sailed Rescue 6 from Cape Town to Mossel Bay on September 24 and 25.”
“After a crew swap and refueling at Mossel Bay on Tuesday night, September 24, she arrived at her new home in Gqeberha’s port of Port Elizabeth late on Wednesday afternoon, September 25,” the statement explained.
Commenting on the arrival of the new rescue vessel, Justin Erasmus, NSRI’s Gqeberha Station Commander, said, “The crew at Station 6 is very excited about the arrival of our new rescue boat. She is going to make a huge difference to our crew safety and the type of operations that we can safely do.”
“We are still looking for a naming sponsor, so at the moment, we use her call sign Rescue 6 as her name,” added Erasmus.
Erasmus further added that the vessel is a huge step up from what NSRI in Gqeberha is used to.
“We have adjusted our training to safely and effectively crew this extremely advanced rescue vessel.
“We will continue with the training program to ensure we are fully operational as soon as possible and ready to put to sea for rescue operations,” stated Erasmus.
Additionally, Mark Hughes, the Capital Projects Director at NSRI, commented on the enhanced operational capabilities brought by the addition of the new rescue vessel.
“Our fleet replacement program will see the entire NSRI all-weather search and rescue fleet replaced with the new vessels, allowing for increased operational capability,” said Hughes.
“Rescue 6 is the 6th vessel, four of which are entirely South African built. We have another two to build to complete this phase of the fleet replenishment,” said Hughes.
“Although most rescues are coastal and inshore, an increasing number of our operations require search and rescue vessels with extended range and advanced capability in safety and technology,” said Hughes.
“As the only maritime rescue service operating in South African waters, we needed to make this investment to ensure all-round safety for crew and those rescued,” Hughes concluded.
