NSRI welcomes latest ORC in Richard’s Bay after marathon sea voyage
The NSRI’s fifth new Offshore Rescue Craft has completed its maiden voyage to Station 19 in Richard’s Bay. The Class 1 vessel out of the Two Oceans Marine Cape Town yard is dubbed Ocean Guardian. Her maiden voyage was skippered by Graeme Harding, with a crew including NSRI Director for Capital Projects Mark Hughes and NSRI Training Officer Dean Wegerle. She was accompanied by ORC Hull#1 Rescue 5 for the final leg of her journey from Durban, and reportedly drew a large crowd upon arrival in Richard’s Bay.
The maiden voyage was 1068 nautical miles at an average speed of about 38kmp/h.
Brett Ayres, Director of Rescue Services, says the ORC was a welcome addition to the NSRI fleet: “ Rescue 19 will be able to cover the northern coastline of KZN up to the Mozambique Border,” Ayres said in a press release to mark the occasion. “This is one of many reasons why this latest ORC went to Richards Bay,” he said.