Mystery surrounds St Francis Bay's 'iceberg'

2007-10-09T17:09:00+00:00

Air Force pilots on the lookout of a massive iceberg in St Francis Bay on Tuesday did not see anything of the sort from the air, sea rescue officials said.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the Air Force did not specifically go looking for the iceberg.

"The Air Force was due to fly in that area anyway and not specifically to look for the iceberg. They were requested to keep a lookout for it, but they did not find or see any iceberg," said Lambinon.

"But, we must take into consideration, that they flew in unfavourable weather conditions where there were high waves," he said.

On Monday the crew of a fishing vessel, the Ntini, reported seeing a massive iceberg - estimated at 25 metres in length and 25 metres high.

It was last seen at 6pm on Monday, 35 nautical miles south east of St Francis Bay.

Lambinon said there had only been one sighting thus far and he could not confirm the find as the NSRI had not seen it themselves.

Meanwhile, SA Weather Service marine researcher Ian Hunter said an iceberg of this magnitude was unlikely.

"It's very unlikely because of the warm Agulhas current off the east coast," he said.

"The history of iceberg climatology in this area also shows that there has never been anything like this in the past," he said.

Hunter said the 'South African Sailing Direction', a book published by the Hydrographic Office under the South African Navy, mentions that there were a few iceberg sightings in the 1850s near Cape Town.

The South African Navy & Marine and Coastal Management: Mystery surrounds St Francis Bay's 'iceberg'

Mystery surrounds St Francis Bay's 'iceberg'