Opening of new PE NSRI base:

The opening of the The Archie & Alta Rabie Rescue Base, Station 6 Port Elizabeth:NSRI Station 6, Port Elizabeth, will celebrate the completion of the revamped boathouse at 11am on Saturday the 24th of October 2015, in the first of 3 celebrations.The major revamp of the station included the gutting of the old building and adding on a new wing to accommodate the 10 metre Search and Rescue (SAR) vessel “Spirit of Toft,”which is currently being refurbished in Cape Town.For the first time the Port Elizabeth NSRI volunteers are able to launch their 7,3 metre SAR boat, ‘Eikos Rescuer IV’, from the boat house straight into the water making a considerably faster response to emergencies.When “Spirit of Toft” returns to station in March 2016, after her refurbishment, she too will be housed out of the water, extending her lifespan considerably while at the same time improving crew safety and emergency response time.As the last time renovations were done to Station 6 was in the early 1970’s, the new boat house, an upgraded control room, new change rooms and ablutions as well as a new roof, was a project that could wait no longer.A new slipway being built is the final part of the PE Rescue Base upgrade and will take about eight weeks. It will be completed before ‘Spirit of Toft’ is back on station.The new Sea Rescue boathouse will be named “The Archie & Alta Rabie Rescue Base” as the revamp was generously sponsored by the Rabie Family Trust, in memory of the Late Dr Archie Rabie.The Rabie Family Trust donation included R500 000 that has been invested to cover the maintenance of the station.Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution to the new Port Elizabeth Sea Rescue station in cash, in kind and in man hours.Media wishing to attend please RSVP to Craig Lambinon urgently - 0823803800.