Celebrating lives and saving lives as NSRI names Rescue 4 at Mykonos

A gift celebrating a couple’s wedding anniversary. A tribute to a mother who quietly supported sea rescue. A husband’s thank you to the wife who helped him through recovery. These are some of the stories carried by Rescue 4, the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) new Offshore Rescue Craft, blessed and named at Club Mykonos, Langebaan, on Saturday 17 October.

Families, donors and volunteers came together to celebrate the vessel, which serves Station 4 Mykonos and the West Coast. Within her RESCUE lettering are the names of loved ones honoured through the NSRI’s Celebrate a Life campaign. Donations made in their honour helped fund her construction.

The vessel was named Spirit of Shoprite Sixty60, recognising a new sponsorship from the Shoprite Group supporting Rescue 4 and the NSRI’s lifesaving work.

For NSRI Chief Executive Officer Mike Vonk, the occasion reflected the many relationships that sustain the organisation.

“Each name represents someone very special. Some celebrate a life still being lived; others remember someone deeply missed. Thank you for your generosity and for sharing the stories behind those names. You have helped build a vessel that will carry those tributes every time our crew go to sea,” said Mike.

“Today brings together the generosity of many individual donors with the support of a major corporate partner. Individuals, families and businesses contribute in different ways because they recognise the value of our work and its importance to South Africa. Together, your support equips our volunteers, strengthens our rescue service and helps more people stay safe around water.”

Celebrate a Life honours people at different stages of life. Some names remember loved ones who have died; others celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and lives still being lived.

One family discovered after their mother’s death that she had quietly supported the NSRI. Their tribute continues that support. For another donor, it celebrates a wife’s care and encouragement during his recovery from a serious accident. Each has found a way to connect someone important to them with helping others.

Rescue 4 follows other Celebrate a Life vessels, including The Legacy at Hermanus and Bay Guardian at Gqeberha, carrying personal tributes into service alongside volunteer rescue crews.

Station 4 Mykonos Station Commander Nic Stevens said the new vessel strengthens the crew’s ability to serve people on the West Coast. “It’s a big day for Station 4 Mykonos. We’ve come from our beginnings in 2004, with a container and a second-hand 5.5-metre boat, to where we are today with this world-class vessel and station.”

“It was unthinkable. This is only possible through everyone in this room, everyone across the country who donates, big and small, and Shoprite Checkers and everyone involved.”

“On top of that, we have the wonderful Celebrate a Life campaign, with the names of loved ones on this vessel. It’s an absolute honour, every time we go to sea, to know that these names are coming with us as we go out to rescue people and hopefully save another life,” said Nic as he welcomed everyone to the event.

Many of the tributes reflect a connection to the sea: memories of family holidays, time spent fishing or sailing, and admiration for volunteers heading out to help strangers. Those connections now form part of a vessel dedicated to bringing people safely home.

Part of Rescue 4 will carry Checkers’ teal branding through December, after which she will return to the NSRI’s familiar red colours. The Celebrate a Life names will remain visible and legible within the RESCUE lettering for the vessel’s operational life. 

“At the Shoprite Group, we know that when disaster strikes, the people on the front line need support too. It’s an honour to support the NSRI leadership, volunteers and crew, who put themselves on the line to save lives and keep our waters safer.”

“As the Spirit of Shoprite Sixty60 begins her service, we wish her and her crew safe passage. May she always deliver you home safely,” said Ilze Bylos, Chief Marketing Officer of the Shoprite Group. 

The vessel was blessed by Chaplain Maryke Venter and formally named by Ilze. 

For the families whose tributes are carried on Rescue 4, the connection will continue beyond the blessing. Every time the volunteer crew launch to answer a distress call, their loved ones’ names will go with them.