A major milestone for maritime safety in Ballito was celebrated on Saturday with the official opening of the new base for Station 41 of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

Situated on Compensation Beach Road, this facility marks a significant step forward in improving emergency response times and meeting the growing rescue demands along the North Coast.

This is the third base for Station 41 since its establishment by Ballito resident Quentin Power in 2018. Before Station 41 was founded, the nearest NSRI stations were in Durban and Richards Bay.

The station’s first base, known as “The Batcave,” was housed in the basement parking of Tiffany’s Centre. It later moved to the Laguna Seca Business Park before settling at its current location.

The station has 16 crew members, including six fully qualified reactive crew who are always on call. Entirely funded by public donations, every team member serves on a volunteer basis. The station operates 24/7, with plans to expand shifts for better coverage.

Beyond sea rescues, the NSRI assists with inland water emergencies and disaster relief. Their community outreach includes school water safety education and maintaining 56 public rescue buoys from Umhlanga to Tugela Mouth. Volunteers regularly check these buoys to ensure they remain functional.

Station 41 has three training intakes planned for 2025 and you can find out more by emailing station41@searescue.org.za To donate visit nsri.org.za/ballito.
In case of emergency you can call 063 699 2607 or 087 094 9774.

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