December is almost here, and that means many of us are heading to the coast. Plakkies packed and ready to go. While we gear up for a sunny break, South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is preparing for one of its busiest seasons. December always is.
Hout Bay, South Africa (24 November 2025) – Across the country, more than 50 volunteer NSRI teams stand ready. They are teachers, plumbers, business owners, and doctors. Ordinary people who drop what they’re doing when someone’s in trouble on the water.
The goal is always the same: a water-safe South Africa.
NSRI’s Hout Bay station is one of the best examples of what that looks like in action. In 2024’s calendar year alone, they launched a rescue vessel 225 times. Some launches were for training (rescue work demands constant practice), and others were to save lives.
Their crew faces some of the toughest sea conditions on the South African coastline.
They respond to drownings, capsized or sinking vessels, kayakers or swimmers in distress, medical emergencies and evacuations from vessels out at sea, vessels needing a tow, and even aviation emergencies. It’s demanding work that calls on skill, readiness, and a willingness to step forward when it matters.
That willingness is something every NSRI volunteer shares.
Carmen Long, deputy station commander in Hout Bay, has been a volunteer for 14 years. She’s the first woman in NSRI history to qualify as a Class 1 coxswain (a skipper of the NSRI’s biggest offshore rescue vessels). A friend took her to a station meeting more than a decade ago, and she never left.
Why does she keep going? For the people.
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“Knowing that I can make a positive impact in the community, meeting volunteers and crew from other stations… seeing my crew dig deep to pull through at every difficult task is absolutely inspiring,” she says.
But even the most dedicated volunteers can only do so much without the right tools.
Right now, the NSRI is in need of a new 14-metre offshore rescue vessel. It’s a next-generation boat that can respond faster, travel farther, and keep both crews and casualties safer in extreme conditions. They’ve named it The Spirit of Ubuntu.
The need for it is growing more urgent as time passes.
“The demand on our rescue crews is increasing,” says Dirk Coetzee, Business Development Manager at the NSRI. “Each year we’re seeing more emergencies, more people in danger, and more moments where the right vessel becomes the difference between a rescue and a tragedy. The Spirit of Ubuntu Vessel Appeal exists for that reason — to strengthen our fleet today, so we can keep saving lives for the next 30 years.”
It will complete their fleet as the backbone of long-range rescues, but it comes with a R26 million price tag. And while public donations keep the NSRI afloat year after year, this vessel requires more.
That’s why the NSRI is calling on corporate South Africa to step in.
“Through our Spirit of Ubuntu Vessel Appeal, we’re inviting iconic South African companies to help build a national symbol of hope and humanity. For R1 million, their logo will be permanently etched into the side of the vessel — carried through storms, across coastlines, and into every life this craft helps save,” Coetzee explains.
It’s a chance for companies to invest in something that will save lives for decades.
“South Africa depends on safe, reliable maritime operations, from logistics and shipping to fisheries, tourism, and offshore industries. Our volunteers make that safety possible, often at great personal cost. This campaign bridges those worlds. It shows companies that the people launching into the wave to rescue divers, kayakers, and seafarers are ordinary volunteers, not paid professionals. Supporting this campaign is a way for companies to actively back the human infrastructure that keeps their sectors safe,” shares Dirk.
Yes, this is a call to action for corporations to get behind the cause. Because it matters. It embodies Ubuntu. The support will go as far in nautical miles as it will in impact.
“This vessel will carry the name Spirit of Ubuntu around one of the world’s most iconic coastlines — and the companies who support it will forever be linked to a national symbol of courage, compassion, and service. It’s an opportunity to contribute to something that strengthens South Africa’s identity and maritime resilience,” shares Coetzee.
But even if you’re not in the business of making million-rand decisions, there are ways to honour and support the volunteers who keep our coastlines safe.
First, by taking responsibility for your safety at the beach this holiday.
“Be cautious,” Carmen reminds beachgoers. “Don’t swim alone or in an area with no lifeguards. Pay attention to rip currents… If you’re going out on a boat, wear a life jacket and don it correctly. Treat the sea with respect, pay attention to the weather and perhaps lastly, never dive in any body of water head first (especially if you can’t see the bottom or you don’t know the area) always feet first.”
And secondly, by showing kindness to the people who stand between danger and your safety.
“The holidays are a busy season for all rescue organisations. If you see paramedics, firefighters or other emergency responders queuing for coffee or food, please let them go first,” she shares. “That might be the only chance they’ll have to eat/drink something before they have to respond to an emergency,” she adds.
Sea Rescue is a team effort, and the team includes all of us. Together, in ways big and small, we can stand behind the people who put their lives at risk just to bring someone else home.
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