How maritime search and rescue works in South Africa - IOL

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 5 in Durban, in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African Navy and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), held a disaster preparedness simulation exercise at Durban’s North Beach, simulating a plane crashing into the ocean .

As summer is fast approaching and more South Africans head to the beach to enjoy the sun, reports of incidents where people go missing increase.

When people get into trouble at sea, the response involves more than a rescue vessel simply heading to their last known location.

South Africa has a dedicated maritime search-and-rescue system designed to coordinate the response to people in distress. This usually brings together government agencies, rescue organisations, port authorities and other maritime role-players.

The system has again come under focus following the recent incident off Mossel Bay in which five people went overboard, with three people confirmed dead and two still missing.

But how does a maritime search-and-rescue operation actually work in South Africa?

The maritime component forms part of the South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) system.

According to the Department of Transport's SASAR information, the maritime search-and-rescue structure has several role-players because of the size and complexity of South Africa's maritime area.

South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is responsible for the maritime search-and-rescue operational function, with the Head of Maritime SAR Operations overseeing the efficient operation of maritime SAR in South Africa's search-and-rescue region.

The SASAR system's functions include searching for and assisting the crew and passengers of vessels in distress, rescuing survivors of maritime casualties and coordinating the evacuation of seriously injured or ill people from vessels at sea when necessary.

The maritime component has multiple role-players, with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) coordinating operations and permanent/secondary rescue sub-centres handling operations within their capabilities.

SAMSA says the MRCC operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with its primary focus being the safety of life at sea.

Its responsibilities include coordinating maritime search-and-rescue operations and exercises, monitoring maritime safety information and managing communications relating to maritime emergencies.

The MRCC also works with government and non-government organisations involved in maritime rescue.

This means that when a serious incident occurs offshore, the response is coordinated rather than handled by one organisation in isolation.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is another important part of South Africa's maritime rescue network.

The NSRI is a volunteer-based rescue organisation assisting people in difficulty on South African coastal and inland waters.

It operates around the clock and has rescue bases along the country's coastline, with surf, inshore and offshore rescue craft available to respond to emergencies.

The organisation also operates an Emergency Operations Centre, which runs 24 hours a day and serves as a central point for incoming emergency calls.

According to the NSRI, its Emergency Operations Centre is a first point of contact for Port Control, the MRCC and other emergency call centres, helping to streamline communication between the NSRI's stations and wider emergency networks.

Not every maritime emergency is handled in the same way.

South Africa has rescue sub-centres positioned along the coastline. The Department of Transport identifies port control offices in Cape Town, Walvis Bay, Saldanha, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Richards Bay as permanent rescue sub-centres.

These centres can handle operations that fall within their scope and capabilities.

If an operation becomes too large or complex, the MRCC can take over coordination.

The system also includes secondary rescue sub-centres, including NSRI bases and harbour masters operating within their respective areas.

This structure allows an emergency to be managed as close to the incident as possible while providing a mechanism for escalating more complicated operations.

A maritime emergency can develop over a large area, and conditions can change quickly.

The search may require different types of rescue craft, communication systems and personnel, depending on where the incident occurs and its scale.

The MRCC's role is therefore not simply to send out a rescue boat. It is responsible for coordinating the search-and-rescue response and bringing the appropriate resources and organisations together.

SAMSA's most recent annual report shows the scale of this work. During the 2024/25 financial year, its MRCC-led search-and-rescue coordination teams conducted 52 maritime rescue operations and 38 emergency medical evacuations.

When an operation becomes too complex for a local rescue sub-centre, the MRCC can assume coordination.

The response can involve several organisations and resources, depending on the circumstances.

The Department of Transport's maritime operational structure provides for dedicated alerting posts including port control offices, coastal radio stations, South African Police Service stations, air traffic service units and the MRCC itself.

The system is designed to ensure that information about a maritime emergency can be received and passed to the appropriate authorities and rescue resources.

The MRCC in Cape Town also has a regional role beyond South Africa.

SAMSA says MRCC Cape Town was inaugurated in 2007 as the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre for the Southern African region, covering Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar and the Comoros in addition to South Africa's responsibilities.

This reflects the international nature of maritime search and rescue, where incidents can occur far from land and potentially involve vessels, people and authorities from different countries.

For people using South African waters, the system means that a distress call can activate a coordinated response involving the MRCC, local rescue sub-centres, rescue organisations and other maritime authorities.

The aim is the same throughout the system: to locate people in distress, provide assistance and, where possible, bring them to safety.