“The official opening of Station 15 on 1 May, 1971 was a treasured moment for the whole of Mossel Bay,” says Station Commander JC Roos. “By 1981, the station had already preformed 267 rescue operations and saved 499 lives.”
On 18 December 1984, however, the boathouse experienced a tragic fire, resulting in damage worth R50 000 as a result of an electrical fault, which caused the loss of expensive equipment and irreplaceable photos, stories and memorabilia. “Fortunately, the boats were undamaged and damage to the station itself was minor, and six months later, the all new, modernised boathouse was opened," says JC. "Our Ian Hamilton Boathouse now houses three rescue crafts and a 4x4 rescue vehicle ready to respond in an instant. Our boathouse consists of two boat sheds and a garage, with a control room, lecture room, braai patio, showers and wet rooms for both ladies and gents. We have top class training, held by some of the most experienced sea men in South Africa with decades of experience. Station 15 has an impeccable rescue record and have achieved various Station Excellence awards over recent years. Our 50-year golden jubilee book is an absolute must read and can be ordered from the station.”
The station itself is named after Ian Hamilton, a founding member and one of the longest serving members in the NSRI. “Ian served in a multitude of roles including Statcom, Regional Director, and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors,” says JC.
He describes the station crew as family: “We have people from all walks of life; we are dedicated, motivated, caring, awesome! We always pull together to get the job done. I am sure every station commander says this, but this crew is definitely the best there is.”
To order a copy of the NSRI Mossel Bay Golden Jubilee Book, contact:
• NSRI Station 15: 082 990 5954
• Andre Fraser: 082 990 5472
Volunteer At This station
Mossel Bay, 4 July 2026: The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay station assisted in a multi-agency maritime medical evacuation operation on Friday, 3 July, transporting a 23 year old Chinese seafarer from a cargo motor vessel to hospital.
Brian Cloete, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said: At 13h46, Wednesday, 24 June, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to conduct a maritime medical evacuation operation for an injured 22 year old Indian male seafarer onboard a container motor vessel approaching Mossel Bay from deep sea.
When Danie Verwey officially joined NSRI Station 15 Mossel Bay as a volunteer in August 2015, he had already spent years at the station.
NSRI Wilderness and NSRI Mossel Bay duty crews were activated following reports of a local fisherman reportedly swept off rocks by waves in the vicinity of Voelklip, Herolds Bay, while shoreline angling.
NSRI Mossel Bay were alerted Sunday by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Mossel Bay Harbour Port Control following reports from a private craft of a boat that had lost motor power requiring assistance.
On Saturday, 31 January, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports from a bystander, at De Vette Mossel Restaurant, Groot Brak, suspecting a man appearing to be in distress offshore beyond the breakers.
It was a year of courage and impact for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). In 2025, thousands of lives were touched, not only in moments of crisis, but through education, training, and the steady presence of volunteers along South Africa’s waterways.
Herman Venter, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, said: At 06h40, Monday, 22 December, NSRI were alerted to a possible pending medical evacuation of a seafarer from a bulk carrier motor vessel.
Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay operations controller, said: At 19h29, Friday, 19 December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Diaz Beach, Mossel Bay.
Michelle Roos, NSRI Mossel Bay coxswain, said: At 13h30, Monday, 13 October, NSRI Mossel Bay were alerted by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port Control, Mossel Bay Harbour, to prepare for the medical evacuation of a 47 year old Filipino male seafarer suffering a medical condition from a motor vessel bulk carrier.
Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay coxswain, said: At 16h06, Friday, 29 August, ourNSRI Mossel Bay duty controller was alerted to eyewitness reports of a young man appearing to be distressed on rocks offshore of Die Poort, at The Point, Mossel Bay.
MOSSEL BAY: Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain said:
MOSSEL BAY: 2 young female children were rescued from the surf zone while swimming with friends at Diaz Beach 2, Mossel Bay.
When Station 15 Mossel Bay Commander JC Roos and his wife, both long-standing NSRI volunteers, visited the coastal town of Tofo in Mozambique, they didn’t just find a beautiful holiday destination. They found a calling.
The body of one man has been recovered and one man remains missing after the local fishing boat that the two men had been on was located washed ashore East of Gouritsmond on Sunday. Police divers (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services) are continuing in ongoing search efforts for the local man, age 58, missing at Gouritsmond. During an extensive search operation on Sunday the body of a man, age 47, from Mossel Bay, was located and recovered at the scene.
DURBAN: Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: At 10H18, Wednesday, 05 March, NSRI Durban duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for the medical evacuation of an Norwegian seaman, age 48, suffering a medical complaint on board a Chemical Tanker, that was due to arrive offshore of the Port of Durban at 08H00, the following morning.
At 15h17, Friday, 21 February, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a body floating in the water offshore of Fransmanshoek.
A Finnish couple have been assisted after their sailing yacht drifted ashore in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Santos Beach, Mossel Bay.
A Good Samaritan, a student at Potchefstroom, who is from Durbanville, Cape Town, and visiting Mossel Bay with friends, fellow Potch students, has been commended for his rescue efforts that contributed to saving the life of a woman caught in rip currents offshore of Die Poort, Mossel Bay.
The quick thinking and skill of a local angler, fishing along the shoreline at Dias Beach, Mossel Bay, who cast his rod, with fishing line and a Kabeljou hook attached, in the direction of a lady who was caught in rip currents while taking a midnight dip in the ocean, hooking her on her jeans and reeling her in to safety, has been commended.
Safety Alert: NSRI, lifeguards, Police and the emergency services are appealing to group visitors to beaches (schools, churches, sports teams, corporate functions), and bathers, to know tide times, attend at beaches protected by lifeguards, and do not venture too deep into the water. Know the emergency numbers: NSRI: 112 or 0870949774. Rip currents form constantly at different places along the shoreline throughout the day and night and bathers should always be alert to rip currents while in the surf zone. If you are caught in a rip current:
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 14h29, Saturday, 24 August, NSRI Wilderness were alerted to reports of a fisherman fallen and injured at Gwaing, near to George.
Johan Ehlers, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain, said: At 22h17, Tuesday, 21 May, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a suspected drowning in progress at Beacon Wharf, Mossel Bay - near to Mossel Bay harbour.
NSRI, in cooperation with Police, maritime authorities, DRM (Disaster Risk Management) and the emergency services are appealing to boaters, sailors, paddlers, bathers, anglers and coastal hikers to be aware of a SAWS (South African Weather Services) warning - alerting to rough sea conditions and big waves along the West Coast coastline, Western Cape Coast coastline, South Cape Coast coastline and potentially extending beyond - for the next few days.
A Johannesburg woman was treated after a serious fall in Plettenberg Bay and a fisherman swept off the rocks was rescued in Mossel Bay
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said: At 14h50, Saturday, 10 February, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the SA Police Services of an adult male angler swept off rocks into the sea by waves while fishing from the shoreline East of Gwaing River Mouth.
SOUTHERN CAPE: Thembalethu, Victoria Bay, Sedgefield, Hansmoeskraal, Buffalo Bay, Mossel Bay. NSRI, Police the emergency services and Municipal authorities are appealing to the South African public and tourists visiting our country to have extreme safety in mind in and around coastal and inland waters.
Police are investigating a case at the Hermanus old harbour where clothing, a cellphone and other items were discovered on the shore.
‘Sea Rescue’ might be in the name, but many NSRI rescue bases are also called on to assist with water-related emergencies inland.
The NSRI Mossel Bay duty team received an activation call after Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services requested assistance for a group of stranded employees from a nearby company.
A fishing vessel runs aground on the rocky Gouritz coastline leaving four deceased, one missing, with two survivors on the South Cape Coast
Here is a weekly news report on some of the rescues that took place: NSRI Mykonos assist a capsized jet-ski; An NSRI rescue swimmer uses an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to save two swimmers caught in rip currents at Langebaan; NSRI Strandfontein assist a yacht with rudder failure; NSRI Mossel Bay, Police and the emergency services assist a man from the surf at Die Poort; NSRI Simonstown and City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Marine officers investigate an overdue fishing boat; NSRI EOC, assisted by an off duty NSRI Table Bay crewman, investigate 2 children that went missing at Muizenberg Beach; NSRI Hermanus tow a whale carcass away from the coastline
At 14h37, Sunday, 12 February, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports from the Police Dive Unit of a drowning in progress at De Vette Mossel, near to the Great Brak River Mouth.
This a reminder again on the FULL MOON SPRING TIDE: Bathers and shoreline anglers around the coast are advised to be cautious during todays peak of the full moon Spring tide that will cause the higher than normal high tide and lower than normal low tide (and that will gradually retreat over the next few days). The peak of the full moon Spring tide is today, Friday, 6th of January - a full moon micro moon. Caution is advised for today, over this weekend and for the first few days of next week. The concern is that coastal bathers and shoreline anglers who are not aware of the full moon (and new moon) Spring tides may be caught off guard. Rip currents can be stronger in places during a Spring tide. We are appealing to coastal bathers and shoreline anglers to be cautious and bathers should only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards, swim in between the safe swimming areas lifeguards post using their red and yellow flags.
Bathers and shoreline anglers around the coast will notice that from today the high tide will gradually get higher than normal and low tide will gradually retreat to lower than normal leading up to the peak of the full moon Spring tide on the 6th of January - a full moon micro moon.