MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Distinguished guests, local crew members and members of neighbouring NSRI stations gathered at the Ian Hamilton Boathouse at NSRI Station 15 in Mossel Bay on Saturday, 5 May for the naming and blessing of the brand new St Blaize Rescuer.
The 6.5m sea rescue craft was built by Gemini in Cape Town and is powered by two 100 hp 4-stroke Yamaha engines.
The boat is certified to handle nine crew at a time, although that might never be the real case scenario. The main purpose of this boat will be to be first to reach an emergency scene in order to administer help and medical treatment until the Brede arrives on the scene. The St Blaize Rescuer replaces the old 5.5 metre Vodacom rescuer II.
Mossel Bay NSRI station commander André Fraser said in his speech: "Over the past 28 years I have learnt and experienced that both the rescue crafts we use and the station and its crew complement will withstand the roughest seas and challenges there might be, only because we believe that tomorrow the sun will shine again and the stormy seas will have subsided.
Out with the old and in with the new. The St Blaize Rescuer (at the back) replaces the old 5.5 metre Vodacom Rescuer II (front). Photo: Tersia Marais
"This station is built on trust and faith in God and therefore we can conquer anything that comes our way."
The St Blaize Rescuer is sponsored by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). The Western Cape provincial manager of the NLC, Marcelle Musson, had the honour of naming and blessing the new boat, saying: "I name this boat St Blaize Rescuer. May God bless her and all who sail on her."
The blessing of boats is an ongoing tradition in the NSRI.
The proud crew of Station 15 and some of the guests during the naming and blessing ceremony.
The first launch with VIP guests on board. Photos: Tersia Marais
After all the ceremonial activities were done, a feast of refreshments was enjoyed and the boat was officially launched with interested parties taken out to demonstrate the boat's capabilities.
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