Lovely sky lanterns can have far-reaching consequences, warns NSRI
The Institute cautions against the use of anything which could possibly be confused with a distress flare out to sea.
ALTHOUGH beautiful, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has pointed out that deploying sky lanterns can be dangerous these look much like red distress flares.
For the uninitiated, sky lanterns are paper-covered wire frames containing a candle. Once the candle is lit, the lantern is released and it flies through the air until the candle burns out.
A recent incident placed both NSRI Durban and the Shelly Beach station on high alert after multiple eye-witness reports of what were believed to be distress flares were received from the stretch of coastline between Southbroom and Southport.
Craig Lambinon, spokesman for NSRI, said a full-scale search and rescue operation was prepared involving NSRI Durban, NSRI Shelly Beach, the SA Police Services, NSRI spotters, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the Transnet National Ports Authority and ships at sea in the area at the time.
“Investigations then led NSRI controllers to suspect that they may have been sky lanterns but the situation was monitored throughout the night until it was confirmed that no vessels were in distress,” said Mr Lambinon.
“NSRI, maritime authorities and emergency services cannot ignore anything which may be a red distress flare and, even when we suspect that the sightings maybe sky lanterns, we are forced to continue to deploy resources and investigate all possibilities until it is absolutely confirmed that no person is in distress,” he said.
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