NSRI

02/03/2026

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives.

28/02/2026

The stats for 2025 for the country

27/02/2026

Every year at Elandsberg Dam, NSRI turns knowledge into action. Children graduating from the Riebeek Kasteel Survival Swimming Centre practice survival techniques in a dam for the first time, with support from volunteers, police divers, and the wider community. Through these exercises, NSRI is creating a culture where safety, responsibility, and self-rescue skills are valued, and where tragedies can be prevented before they happen.

25/02/2026

Always training, always working hard. Tonight we focused on refuelling SOPs and Introduction to MEX.

NSRI

25/02/2026

Summer brings thousands of people to South Africa’s coastline, but the ocean is unforgiving. Rip currents can form suddenly, even in seemingly safe conditions, sweeping swimmers out to sea. NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy programme has saved hundreds of lives since 2017, offering immediate flotation support while help arrives. The lesson is clear: respect the water, swim at lifeguarded beaches, and never underestimate the power of the sea. Awareness and caution can mean the difference between life and tragedy.

23/02/2026

NSRI Rescue Report - 16 to 22 February 2026.

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives.

To read more incredible stories from the world of the NSRI, visit our news page here: https://www.nsri.org.za.

You can also support the NSRI here: https://www.nsri.org.za.

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a...

19/02/2026

From rescues off Hout Bay to extreme conditions far offshore, the Spirit of Ubuntu will enable NSRI volunteers to respond faster, safer, and further than ever before. At roughly R26 million, this state-of-the-art rescue vessel is a long-term investment in our nation's safety. Italtile’s bold step as the first partner reflects courage, community spirit, and purpose-driven action. With nine corporate spots still open, this is your chance to join a legacy that truly matters.

Learn More: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/01/italtile-leads-the-way-as-the-first-brand-to-claim-a-spot-on-the-spirit-of-ubuntu/

18/02/2026

Wednesday evening training was a combination of rafting and mooring drills.

Rafting (or rafting up) is a, maritime technique used to secure two or more vessels together side-by-side to facilitate maneuvering, particularly when one vessel is disabled.

Key Aspects of Rafting for Rescue
Purpose: It is primarily used to take a casualty vessel—which may have lost propulsion, steering, or both—to a mooring or dock by using the power and steering of the rescue vessel.
Procedure: The rescue vessel typically comes alongside the disabled vessel. It is crucial to secure the vessels with multiple lines, including bow, stern, and spring lines, to prevent longitudinal movement (surging).
Positioning: The rescue vessel should ideally position itself so its propeller is well aft of the center of rotation of the towed vessel, allowing for better steering control.
Safety Measures: Fenders must be deployed on both vessels to prevent damage, especially if the boats have different freeboard heights.
Limitations: Rafting is generally used in calmer waters. In heavy seas, towing alongside can cause dangerous,, constant battering between the hulls.

NSRI

17/02/2026

Roxy Traylor didn’t always love the ocean. As a child, the waves intimidated her, and confidence in the water didn’t come easy. But through dedication, training, and a life-changing Robben Island swim, she found respect and courage in the sea. Today, at just 22, she’s a coxswain at NSRI Table Bay, leading rescues and saving lives. Her story reminds us that the ocean demands respect, preparation matters, and passion can transform fear into purpose.

17/02/2026

Happy birthday Tara!

13/02/2026

Get ready to pack your bags, Zarina Ismail, because you are the winner of a 2-night stay for 2 at The Trade Boutique Hotel! Congratulations, Zarina. We hope you enjoy your stay!

13/02/2026

The thrill of kiteboarding in Cape Town is unmatched: the rush of wind in your hair, the feeling of soaring above the waves. But the same waves that give us freedom can also take it away. The NSRI’s ‘Graham Howes: A Life Well Lived’ campaign honours a rider who embraced the ocean with courage and passion, and now turns that love into life-saving action. By supporting this initiative, we can help ensure fewer tragedies, more awareness, and a stronger culture of safety for everyone chasing the wind.

13/02/2026

NSRI has a new addition to its lineup

The National Sea Rescue Institute is a charity staffed by volunteers who are on call 24/7. Our mission is to save lives on South African waters.

11/02/2026

Wednesday evening training.

NSRI

11/02/2026

A stranger. A Pink Rescue Buoy. A choice to act. Because of Innocent’s courage, a father and daughter survived a rip current at Brenton-on-Sea.

Watch Video Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPLyBQbgkbA

10/02/2026

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments from the past week that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives.

A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a...

09/02/2026

When conditions are tough, reliability matters. INEOS Automotive's Grenadier 4x4 is helping NSRI crews access remote launch sites and support life-saving operations across land and sea.

The National Sea Rescue Institute is a charity staffed by volunteers who are on call 24/7. Our mission is to save lives on South African waters.

07/02/2026

Saturday Duty Weekend Base Cleaning & Maintenance and Training.

05/02/2026

2025 rescue stats

The National Sea Rescue Institute is a charity staffed by volunteers who are on call 24/7. Our mission is to save lives on South African waters.

04/02/2026

Tracking you home safely!

The RSA SafeTRX App monitors a boat's journey and alerts emergency contacts, who are nominated by the user (family and friends), should they fail to return to shore on time.

This free cellphone application, enables the user to plot their intended course, store essential emergency numbers that can be used by NSRI if you fail to return from your trip, gives NSRI your location at all times during your trip, gives the user the ability to call an emergency by the push of a button and giving NSRI your exact position throughout our rescue response if you press the emergency button.

Features include:

•An Emergency Call button which allows you to quickly make a distress call from the application. The app sends an Emergency location update to the Emergency Operations Centre and your emergency contacts if you have a cell phone connection.

•Track only mode can be used to begin tracking at a touch of a button.

•Personalised Checklists aims to promote safety awareness by allowing you to create and review your own list of checklist items prior to departure.

•A new Mobile Logbook stores up to 20 trips on your phone, and can be replayed at any time within the app in video playback mode.

NSRI