On Monday, 10 August, during the late afternoon, NSRI Vaal Dam duty crew were activated following reports of vessels affected at their moorings at Manten Marina, Vaal Dam, during heavy thunder storms with strong winds.

NSRI crews spend four days securing storm-damaged vessels at Vaal Dam marina

NSRI Vaal Dam's duty crew were activated on the afternoon of Monday, 10 August 2026, after reports that vessels moored at Manten Marina, Vaal Dam, had been affected by heavy thunderstorms and strong winds.

Part of the marina's harbour wall collapsed, and several jetties broke free or sank. Sailing yachts and other local vessels, at the mercy of gale-force winds and heavy thunderstorms, broke free of their moorings and collided with jetties and with each other. The vessels were unmanned at the time, and there was no risk to life. Two sailing yachts sank at their moorings.

NSRI Vaal Dam crew were mobilised, and NSRI Witbank and NSRI Gauteng were activated to assist.

On Monday, Manten Marina staff, local community members and boat owners worked to corral and secure vessels. When light was lost in the late afternoon and early evening, the decision was taken to reassess the situation on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, with gale-force winds and heavy thunderstorms persisting, marina staff, community members and boat owners continued securing and corralling vessels, though the inclement weather hampered their efforts.

On Wednesday, NSRI Vaal Dam dispatched its rescue craft Spirit of Round Table, while NSRI Witbank responded with its rescue vehicle towing the rescue craft Harveys Fibreglass, and crew from NSRI Gauteng also responded. NSRI crew, the two rescue craft, marina staff, community members and boat owners gathered at the marina, where efforts continued to secure vessels and move them around the harbour despite the ongoing gale-force winds and thunderstorms, which continued to hamper the operation.

On Thursday, NSRI Vaal Dam, NSRI Witbank, NSRI Gauteng, Manten Marina staff and local boat owners made the most of clearing weather to corral and move vessels around the harbour, securing them at their moorings. Using the two NSRI rescue craft, four sailing vessels were escorted and guided to the Gauteng side of the Vaal Dam, where they were safely secured at marinas. Jetties that had broken free were secured, and at least 15 vessels were moved around the harbour and safely secured.

In 20 knot winds and bitter cold, NSRI crew, marina staff and local boat owners worked tirelessly throughout Thursday to bring order to the marina, securing vessels both there and at marinas on the Gauteng side of the dam that offered safe moorings to vessels that had been relocated.

The situation will continue to be assessed over the weekend, with some vessels having sustained storm damage. No injuries were reported during the operation, and all those involved are commended for coming together to assist in this weather-related response.