Did you know? The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a search-and-rescue organisation run by 920 dedicated volunteers who are on standby day and night, every single day of the year.

The urgent need for a sea-rescue organisation in South Africa was highlighted in 1966, when 17 fishermen drowned after their trawler sank near Still Bay due to the absence of a rescue service. Today, the organisation has 30 coastal and three inland rescue bases, a fleet of 72 rescue craft, 21 vehicles and access to a range of helicopters for the purpose of keeping people who use South Africa’s waterways safe. 

“Split-second decisions could mean the difference between life and death,” says Walter Mech, group marketing and sales director for Garmin Southern Africa. “As a result, the NSRI depends heavily on reliable state-of-the-art equipment that enables volunteers to perform their duties efficiently.”

Garmin South Africa is proud to have signed a sponsorship agreement with this amazing organisation for a further year. Garmin’s partnership with the NSRI includes invaluable life-saving marine equipment that aids volunteers in keeping our waterways safe.

“We at Garmin South Africa are proud to be the equipment manufacturer of choice for the NSRI because the lives of the rescuers are just as important as the lives of the people they are saving. We salute all of the organisation’s brave and willing volunteers. Wherever they need to go, Garmin will be there to help,” Mech concludes.