City of Cape Town launches rescue dive unit vessel

Loyiso Langeni
16 January 2015

The City of Cape Town on Thursday launched its most recent fire and rescue services dive unit vessel.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said this is the third vessel that has been added to the dive unit. 

He added that the dive unit were called up eight times during the festive season to look for bodies during body recovery operations. 

Smith also said the unit consists of 24 qualified divers and 10 skippers that will be in training next year.

He emphasised that the unit is expecting to see components at Milnerton, Roeland Street and Strand and each one of these units is equipped rubber duck and a supporting jet ski as well as aluminium boat for inland water rescue.

“The investment in these rubber ducks allows these units to have much a better response time in terms of their work with National Sea rescue Institute, the Western Province Life Saving and the City’s Law Enforcement services which is contributed to our low number of drowning.”  Smith added.