Life saving innovation: How NSRI volunteers are transforming search and rescue

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) thrives on the dedication of its volunteers, whose innovation and expertise continue to transform search and rescue (SAR) operations.

Two outstanding volunteers, Marc de Vos, and Marilyn Wells, have developed cutting-edge computer models – SARMarc and SearchWell – that significantly enhance the effectiveness of search efforts along South Africa’s coastline.

Harnessing weather data for precise search planning

Marc de Vos, a former Station Commander and Class 1 Coxswain at Station 3 in Table Bay, is the mind behind SARMarc. A marine weather scientist, Marc combined his expertise in meteorology and oceanography to create a program that integrates open-source weather and ocean forecast data. SARMarc calculates probable drift paths of missing persons or vessels, helping rescue teams allocate resources efficiently and reduce search times.

Marc recalls a notable success story from 2022 when the SARMarc prototype guided a search for a missing yacht in rough offshore conditions. Working with the South African Air Force’s 22 Squadron, Marc, who was also deployed as a rescue swimmer, witnessed firsthand how the model’s search pattern led to the yacht’s discovery. More recently, SARMarc and SearchWell worked in tandem to locate a missing Spanish diver after more than three hours at sea.
Despite its success, SARMarc remains a work in progress, with Marc continuously refining the software to improve accuracy and usability as time permits.

Streamlining rescue operations

Marilyn Wells, Deputy Station Commander and shore controller at Station 26 in Kommetjie, developed SearchWell to address the challenges of manually calculating drift predictions. With a teaching and software development background, Marilyn recognised that computers could process the complex mathematical formulas involved in SAR operations far faster and more accurately than humans.

Her program predicts where a casualty might drift from a known/assumed origin and also allows rescuers to work backwards to determine a missing vessel/person’s likely point of origin. SearchWell generates digital outputs that can be transferred to GPS systems on rescue boats and aircraft, removing the need for verbal communication of coordinates over unreliable radio transmissions. The system also enables the rapid recalculation of search patterns as new information emerges, improving flexibility and accuracy.

Marilyn’s dedication to refining SearchWell has been driven by real-life SAR missions where such technology would have significantly improved outcomes. The tool has been widely adopted across NSRI stations, earning praise from crews who have found it invaluable in real-time operations.

Revolutionising search and rescue

The impact of these volunteer-driven initiatives has been profound. “The integration of SARMarc and SearchWell models has revolutionised the efficiency and accuracy of NSRI rescue operations,” Charl Maritz, NSRI’s Operations Manager, highlighted.

Despite ongoing challenges such as adverse weather conditions, resource limitations, and the complexity of coordinating multiple rescue services, the integration of technology continues to improve SAR operations. The future promises even greater advancements, with enhanced predictive modelling, artificial intelligence, and improved communication systems to further refine these life saving tools.

Marc and Marilyn’s contributions exemplify the spirit of volunteerism at NSRI. Their dedication and ingenuity have revolutionised maritime search and rescue within the NSRI, demonstrating the incredible impact that passionate individuals can have in saving lives at sea.