The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says they have now located seven survival immersion suits found adrift or coming ashore at False Bay in Cape Town.
A spokesperson for the NSRI, Craig Lambinon, says on Saturday morning, the first suit was located by a member of the public, floating ashore on St James Beach, while a security officer found the second in Muizenberg.
He says as the morning progressed more suits were reported adrift in False Bay.
Lambinon says it is unusual for this type of survival equipment to drift ashore, although they remain cautiously optimistic that it does not indicate a vessel in distress.
He says the shoreline was monitored by air for possible debris. However, nothing was found, and they are now appealing to the maritime community and public to report any further findings.
Thoughts are leaning towards the possibility that these survival immersion suits, manufactured in 2015, were dumped in the ocean by a passing vessel, although it remains unknown.
The NSRI contacted the Chinese manufacturers of the survival immersion suits, and they assisted in trying to identify where these suits may have been supplied, although it led to a dead end.
Lambinon thanked the Chinese manufacturers for their extensive efforts.
