The National Sea and Rescue Institute (NSRI) will be keeping the seas a little safer as they launch their latest addition – the Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC). This incredible specimen of engineering will provide the NSRI with a self-righting search and rescue craft that will be able to tackle the rough seas and extreme weather conditions.
Even more impressive is the fact that this rescue craft can be deployed on rescue missions as far as 50 nautical miles from land and will likely man a number of missions as it has an expected lifespan of at least 40 years. According to the NSRI, at 14.8 m long and 4.8m wide, Rescue 17 is the first fully South African built ORC and was built in collaboration with Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing.
“By having these vessels manufactured in South Africa, the NSRI is investing in the country’s boat-building industry, providing a boost for local employment,” the NSRI indicated in a statement.
So, just which part of the Western Cape will this newly built ORC be keeping the waters safe? This nifty rescue vehicle is destined for Hermanus but is set to cover a wide area of operations that include the Overberg region from Quoin Point to Hawston.
Even more special is that the boat carries the special names of donors who wished to honour their loved ones from the recent launch of the NSRI’s Legacy campaign.