History of Sea Rescue Station 15, Mossel Bay

Official opening

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 15 in Mossel Bay was already unofficially operational from December 1970, but the official opening on 1 May 1971 was a treasured occasion for the whole of Mossel Bay.

Multiple dignitaries were present at the official opening, where the guest speaker was Lieutenant-Commander Alan Holman.

After the ceremony, a rescue operation was enacted by NSRI crew. Station 15 was now fully open and operational.

Development

In 1981 the boathouse was renovated twice. There were shower and dressing room facilities, a chart and radio room, a large lecture room, a gear room, as well as a shed to house the new boat, with a launching winch.

By 1981 the station had already preformed 267 rescue operations and saved 499 lives.

On 18 December 1984, there was a fire in the boathouse, resulting in R50 000 in damage. Investigators concluded the fire was caused by an electrical fault which caused the loss of expensive equipment and irreplaceable photos, stories and memorabilia.

Fortunately, the boats were only minorly damaged, thus the station could function as soon as the power supply to the winch was restored.

About six months later, the all-new and modernised boathouse was opened.

Regardless of the ups and downs at Station 15, it rose like a phoenix every single time. Now the station has more than 50 active volunteers, who are driven by their passion for the sea and helping others, who would sacrifice their lives for others and gladly do it twice; volunteers who give up their work time and family time to make others' needs a priority.

The Ian Hamilton Boathouse now houses three rescue crafts and a 4x4 rescue vehicle, ready to respond in an instant.

The boathouse consists of two boat sheds and a garage, with a control room, lecture room, braai patio and showers and wet rooms for both ladies and gents.

Station 15 offers top-class training, presented by some of the most experienced seamen and -women in South Africa, with decades of experience. - Extracts from NSRI Station 15 Golden Jubilee Book, 1971-2021.