False Bay – Flare sighting:

At 21h56 on Tuesday the 17th of February, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following an eye-witness report of two red distress flares sighted in False Bay.NSRI Gordons Bay and NSRI Simonstown were placed on alert and NSRI Hermanus investigated boat launching slip ways along the False Bay coastline were investigated for boat trailers and NSRI coast watchers were placed on high alert along the False Bay coastline between Kleinmond and Simonstown.Because only one eye-witness saw the two flares (go up in succession) it was difficult to get an accurate bearing and Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert but boats in the False Bay area reported not seeing red distress flares.Throughout the night coast watchers along the False Bay coastline maintained a vigil but with no persons or boats reported overdue or missing and no boat trailers found at slip ways the source of the red distress flares remains unknown and by this morning, Wednesday, 18th February the alert was cancelled with no persons or boats suspected to be in any difficulties.