the NSRI undertook its longest journey yet – 1068 nautical miles – to deliver the fifth vessel in its new ORC fleet to Richards Bay, Station 19.
The ORC Project is an ambitious NSRI initiative to modernize its fleet by introducing a new class of deep-sea rescue vessels specifically designed for South African waters. These 14.8-meter self-righting crafts, built entirely in South Africa, are engineered to handle the most extreme rescue conditions. Capable of operating up to 50 nautical miles offshore, each vessel boasts a projected service life exceeding 40 years.
On Tuesday, 6 June, after compiling a detailed passage plan, taking into account weather conditions, emergency systems and obstacles to avoid, Graeme and his crew – NSRI Training Officers Dean Wegerle and Julian Singh, Operational Station Manager Charl Maritz, and Durban duty coxswain Paul Bevis – boarded the 'Ocean Guardian' ORC and embarked on the first leg of their journey.