Rebuilt St Francis Bay Station Opens — and Welcomes Two New Rescue Boats

We’re proud to announce that our newly rebuilt NSRI Station 21 in St Francis Bay is now officially open. To mark this milestone, we held a blessing ceremony for two new state-of-the-art rescue vessels: the Spirit of St Francis III and the Spirit of ScottSam as well as the rescue base.

This upgraded station — along with its entirely re-engineered launch and recovery systems — marks a major step forward in supporting our rescue operations in one of the most dynamic and challenging stretches of South Africa’s coastline.

“For many years, ensuring the safe storage of our rescue boats in this harbour has been challenging due to their direct exposure to the ocean,” says Graeme Harding, Head of NSRI Fleet and Facilities. “With the new station and lifting system, our vessels are now elevated into a sealed boathouse, fully shielded from the sea below — a first for this base.”

Previously, our boats were stored in open cradles and exposed to the elements. The new system lifts them into a closed, secure boathouse, offering significantly improved protection and readiness.

Meet Our New Vessels

The Spirit of St Francis III
This 10.6-metre Gemini Cabin-Class RIB is powered by twin 250-horsepower four-stroke Suzuki engines and can reach speeds of up to 36 knots. Designed for offshore operations, it offers our crew critical protection from the elements during long and difficult rescues.

“The Spirit of St Francis III is exceptionally well-suited to our region,” says Station Commander Sara Jane Smith. “Her speed, range, and cabin protection enable us to respond more swiftly and safely in tough sea conditions.”

The Spirit of ScottSam
Our second new vessel is a JetRIB — a rigid inflatable boat powered by a jet propulsion system rather than propellers. This makes it ideal for surf rescues, where swimmers or casualties are often in the water nearby.

“The JetRIB has revolutionised inshore and surf rescue,” adds Smith. “Its manoeuvrability and jet-drive design make it perfect for the unpredictable conditions we encounter here.”

Better Facilities for Our Crew

The rebuilt station also includes new crew facilities built into the boathouse itself — a long-awaited improvement.

“Although we still have the original crew room across the way, we now have crew facilities within the boathouse building — and that’s a game changer,” says Smith. “We now have a small training area, shower and kitchen facilities, a crew meeting space, and a medical room. It will make a significant difference when training, responding to call-outs, or hosting social events.”

Thank You for Making This Possible

Everything we’ve achieved here — from the rebuilt station to the two new rescue boats — has only been possible thanks to the support of generous donors and sponsors.

Your support saves lives. Thank you for helping us to continue serving South Africa’s coastline with courage, kindness, and commitment.

🖼️ See photos from the ceremony here:
View the full photo gallery on Flickr »