New ORCs and bases take shape for NSRI West Coast stations

Two of the NSRI’s coastal stations, Mykonos and Hout Bay, are entering an exciting new chapter as work progresses on their new Offshore Rescue Craft (ORCs) and purpose-built rescue bases. These projects form part of the organisation’s long-term plan to renew its Class 1 fleet and upgrade key station infrastructure.

Hull 7 and 8 on track
ORC Hull 7 for Station 4 Mykonos, and ORC Hull 8 for Station 8 Hout Bay are being built at the Two Oceans Marine facility in Parow. “The construction of Hull 7 is 75% complete,” says Willem de Waal, who is managing the projects from Head Office. “The next major milestone will be when she is transported to the Table Bay harbour facility by road, which will be around the end of October 2025.”

Hull 8, destined for Hout Bay, is following closely behind and will come out of the mould at the same time.

Willem notes that the ORC projects are “pretty much on schedule, and within budget”, with only a few design changes such as adding Radio Direction Finders and replacing FLIR cameras with low-light versions.

Hull 7 is expected to launch in January 2026, followed by a month of sea trials and SAMSA certification before being delivered to Mykonos in March. “The programme has been ‘stretched’ for several reasons,” Willem explains. “There is ample time to make sure the building is ready, and the winch and cradle systems properly commissioned, ensuring that the vessel does not have to lie in the elements waiting for these items to be completed.”

Hull 8 will follow the same process, with a planned launch around April or May 2026 and delivery in June.

Some of the biggest logistical challenges in these builds, Willem says, have come from importing specialised components: “The transport costs are only known once the factories let us know the product is ready, and fluctuating exchange rates mean we are not fully in control of the costs.”

The NSRI’s major Class 1 boat replacement project was started under the management and supervision of Mark Hughes. “He can be really proud of this achievement,” Willem says. “It places the NSRI in a good position for at least the next 40 years.”

At Mykonos, Station Commander Nic Stevens says the crew has been preparing for months. “We have been familiarising our crew with the intricacy of running bigger vessels, teaching a deeper understanding of inboard drive systems, engine mechanics, electrical understanding and general marine systems.” The new ORC, he says, will make a huge difference during long operations in rough conditions.

At Hout Bay, Station Commander Spencer Oldham says the new ORC will “allow us to reach casualties faster and operate more safely in the rough and wild sea conditions of the South Atlantic off the Cape Peninsula.”

Building progress at Mykonos and Hout Bay
Construction on both new bases is advancing well. “Progress with the construction component of the Station 4 project has been good, with limited weather delays during the winter months,” Willem reports. The boathouse floors are scheduled for casting in mid-October, with the roof to be installed in early November. Completion is expected by the end of January 2026.

At Hout Bay, the new double-storey base broke ground in August. “Foundations are currently in progress,” Willem says. “The slipway caissons have been set out and are currently being constructed. The building contract is scheduled to be completed by 30 June 2026.”

In the meantime, the crew has relocated to a temporary base – the largest of its kind yet built by the NSRI. “The crew had to pack up the old base in a weekend, proving that the station is the people, not the building,” says Spencer. “The launches are now physically and technically more complex, which has brought the crew closer, but we cannot wait for our new base to be completed.”

When both projects are complete, Mykonos and Hout Bay will be home to state-of-the-art facilities and deep-sea rescue vessels built to serve their communities for decades to come, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all who volunteer and all who rely on them.