NSRI Station 14 Celebrates Major Boat Blessing in Plett

Station 14 in Plettenberg Bay marked a rare and meaningful milestone when three rescue vessels were officially blessed earlier this month.

For Station Commander Jaco Kruger, the ceremony represented the people, partnerships and shared commitment behind every rescue callout.

“A boat blessing ceremony is actually a celebration of saving lives,” he explained. “It's not only to bless the vessel, but also to thank the competent crew for their training, the sponsors, the supporters – everything that makes a rescue boat a rescue boat.”

The proceedings included a welcome from Jaco, speeches from Deputy Station Commanders John Bozman and Ross Badenhorst about the importance of the station’s JetRIB and 5.5-metre rescue vessels, remarks from sponsor Raymond Steyn, and blessings led by Mark Brown.

Long-serving crew members Monica Taylor, who has volunteered for 13 years and is a Class 4 coxswain, and Tracy Meintjes, who has served for 21 years and is a Senior Controller, performed the blessings themselves – a fitting tribute to the volunteers who dedicate countless hours to keeping local waters safe.

Meet the Three Vessels

The three vessels blessed were Rescue Plett, Spirit of Pilatus and Rescue Ray, each playing a unique role in the station’s operations.

Rescue Plett is the station’s new 5.5-metre Gemini RIB, purpose-built for Plett’s demanding surf conditions. Graeme Harding, NSRI Head of Fleet and Facilities, said the vessel was carefully designed with direct input from experienced volunteers.

“Rescue Plett is a brand-new design with a new console and seating arrangements, which is ideally suited to working in the rough surf conditions around Plett and Robberg,” Graeme said.

He added that “the boat layout was put together with major input from senior coxswains on station throughout the build.”

The other two vessels are JetRIBs – agile rescue craft designed for rapid response in difficult surf and strong currents. One, Spirit of Pilatus, will serve the Nature’s Valley satellite station, where rescue conditions can be especially challenging.

“The surf conditions become very challenging with big rip currents and swells making it almost impossible to swim out to possible casualties,” Graeme explained. “This JetRIB will help with getting a boat on scene far faster than if it has to come all the way from the Plett station.”

An Unusual Milestone

While blessing three vessels at once is unusual, Jaco Kruger said the occasion came together after several projects overlapped in a short period.

The station had already been preparing to replace an ageing Jet Ski that had reached the end of its operational life. At the same time, work was underway on a new satellite station in Nature’s Valley, when a generous sponsor stepped up to fund a JetRIB for the project. Rescue Plett, the station’s new 5.5-metre vessel, had also been in development for some time.

Each vessel also reflects the strong support the station receives from its community and donors: Raymond Steyn sponsored Spirit of Pilatus through his business, Pilatus Centre Southern Africa. Rescue Plett was funded by a long-standing private trust that has supported NSRI Plett for many years. Rescue Ray, meanwhile, was funded through public donations and named in honour of the late Ray Farnham, a former Station Commander who dedicated many years to the station.

More Than Just Boats

After the formal blessing, the day shifted into a rescue demonstration and family celebration, complete with boerie rolls and boat rides for children. For Jaco, that family atmosphere is an important part of station life.

“It's quite often overlooked on the family side of things,” he said. “We've got lots of young kids, so maybe twice a year, we'll do a family day.”

“Our kids are proud,” he added. “They tell stories at school about how they've also been on the rescue boats, and that's important.”

For Station 14, the blessing ceremony was ultimately a celebration of teamwork, from volunteers and families to sponsors and supporters, all united by the goal to save lives.