Sailing Magazine
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Dr Cleeve Robertson, CEO of National Sea Rescue Institute and the Captain Keith Burchell, Chairman of Bursary Fund.
“One of the NSRI’s strategies in achieving a society with fewer drownings is collaboration. Our agreement with the General Botha Old Boys Association Bursary Fund and partnership with Lawhill Maritime Centre has two objectives:
Firstly, we are taking a long term view on the future, recognising that the sustainability of maritime rescue services and drowning prevention systems will depend on the right human capital, with the right attitudes, skills and capacity, to fuel the engine of the organisation. This cooperation is a small but significant step.
Secondly, we recognise that, as an organisation, we bring a unique experience to education. We are at the sharp end of water-related industries and have comprehensive insights into water safety across a broad range of industrial, commercial and recreational activities. We believe that the safety culture, values and experience that we can share with students will prove invaluable to them in the future. We are very happy to be establishing relationship that will help realise our vision and, as South Africans and Africans, to play our part in building the society we need,” said Dr Robertson.
As part of the commitment to the relationship, NSRI supports the education and development of two Lawhill Maritime Centre Bursary Fund students Buren Van Wyk and Owami Zuma.
In turn, the Bursary Fund commits to the provision of a three-year NSRI Modular Education & Training Programme which will supplement the theory studies of Bursary Fund Students during the time they are at Lawhill Maritime Centre by providing them with Leadership, Practical Navigation and Seamanship training.
This training is specifically aligned to the SAIMI (South African International Maritime Institute) run National Navigator and Engineer Cadet Program in providing practical training and skills development to potential cadets. Professor Malek Pourzanjani, CEO of SAIMI pledged their support of this strategic alliance through funding as well as investment in the development of a mentoring guide which is a critical success factor in the success in this collaborative agreement. The intention is that this mentoring guide will then be shared freely through an open access public portal.
Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters.
NSRI is manned by 1 000 volunteers at 31 bases around the coast and on 5 inland dams.
Donations, bequests and sponsorships cover the annual running cost of R84m.
The volunteers save us a salary bill in excess of R350m per annum.
