Kudos to Platinum Partner I&J

Our grateful thanks to I&J for their ongoing support.

Without long-term partners, the NSRI would not be able to continue its life-saving rescue work and water-safety initiatives. This year we were pleased to honour and thank I&J formally at our annual AGM by awarding them the Alric Simpson Floating Trophy in recognition of their distinguished and ongoing support of our organisation.

Forty years of support

The NSRI is 54 years old and for 40 of those years, we’ve been able to count on I&J for their support. In 1981, I&J sponsored an 8m deep-sea rescue craft that was delivered to Station 3 (Table Bay), located at the time in Three Anchor Bay. This craft made her way to the Saldanha base in 1992.

I&J subsequently sponsored three 4.7m RIBs: I&J Rescuer II based at Station 27 (Gauteng), I&J Rescuer III based at (Station 16) Strandfontein, and I&J Rescuer IV based at Station 30 (Agulhas). These vessels are invaluable for inshore rescue purposes and assisted the NSRI in steadily growing its fleet of rescue craft.

In addition, when it came to establishing Station 3 (Table Bay) at its V&A Waterfront premises in Table Bay in 1991, I&J donated the substantial amount of R300 000 towards the project. The I&J logo is still proudly displayed on the base building with the inscription ‘Together we care’.

In 1995 I&J was officially welcomed onboard as a Platinum Partner (one of our first), and has been supporting us in this capacity ever since.

The Alric Simpson Trophy

It was with great pleasure that the NSRI was able to thank and honour I&J officially this year at our AGM and Awards evening by giving them the Alric Simpson Floating Trophy in thanks of four decades of support. They have played an invaluable role in ensuring that we have efficient, built-for-purpose rescue equipment at our rescue bases so that our volunteer crew can operate safely.

The Alric Simpson Floating Trophy is one of a kind – it was commissioned by the late Mrs Eleanor Simpson and her two sons who wanted to donate an award with a difference to the NSRI in memory of husband and dad Alric who loved the sea. The Alric Simpson knot board was design in his memory and each year is awarded to a person or organisation that has rendered distinguished service to the NSRI.

‘The NSRI provides an essential safety net for industries in the maritime sector, particularly fishing, but this would not be possible without the loyal support of long-term partners like I&J who were founder funders of the organisation and continue to provide for the essential resources necessary to saving lives on South African waters. Kudos I&J!’ says NSRI CEO, Dr Cleeve Robertson.