ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540) Table Bay, Cape Town
ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540) | Ro-Ro Cargo Vessel
Explore ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540), a Ro-Ro cargo vessel photographed in Table Bay, with maritime observations, tug assistance and vessel research. |
| ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540) Table Bay, Cape Town |
Photographer's Note: ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540) was photographed by Vernon Chalmers in Table Bay, Cape Town. The image forms part of the Vernon Chalmers Photography Maritime Studies Project and is also published in the Shipspotting.com database.
Ship Spotting Photography Training Cape Town
Ro-Ro Cargo Operations and Maritime Observation in Table Bay
ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540)
The maritime environment around Cape Town provides opportunities to observe vessels of very different sizes, designs and operational purposes. Among the more distinctive ships encountered off the coast is ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540), a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) cargo vessel photographed for Vernon Chalmers Photography.The photograph reveals a long green hull, a forward ramp structure, a centrally positioned accommodation block, a yellow funnel bearing the FSL emblem, deck cargo and substantial equipment towards the stern. These features give ANVIL POINT a recognisable profile within the commercial shipping environment.
The observation is particularly relevant to the Maritime Observation System (MOS) because it extends beyond vessel identification. Earlier field notes record ANVIL POINT positioned on the visual line between Milnerton Lighthouse and the V&A Waterfront reference points, with the vessel subsequently moving towards the port entrance. The observation also included tug assistance from USIBA and a smaller craft near the stern, which was too small to identify reliably.
Together, the photograph and field observations provide a basis for documenting the vessel, its visible configuration and the sequence of maritime activity without assuming operational details that have not been independently confirmed.
Identifying ANVIL POINT
ANVIL POINT is identified by IMO number 9248540. Maritime vessel databases classify it as a Ro-Ro cargo ship and record its construction in 2003. Published particulars identify the vessel as approximately 193 metres long, with a beam of about 26 metres, gross tonnage of 23,235 and deadweight of 13,274 tonnes.
The vessel is recorded under the United Kingdom flag, with London as its port of registry. Its call sign is VQBR7 and its MMSI is 235572000. These identifiers are useful when connecting the photographic observation to vessel registers and historical tracking records.
The ship was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Historical vessel records also associate ANVIL POINT with Foreland Shipping and its management arrangements. Company names and management details can change, however, and should be treated as time-sensitive particulars rather than permanent characteristics of the vessel.
The IMO number is the most useful primary identifier for the MOS archive. Vessel names, flags, call signs and management arrangements may change, whereas the IMO number provides a stable reference for distinguishing the vessel from similarly named ships.
Understanding the Ro-Ro Vessel
Roll-on/roll-off vessels are designed to carry cargo that can be driven or otherwise moved on wheels across a ramp and onto designated cargo decks. Typical cargoes include road vehicles, trailers, wheeled equipment and other loads suitable for this method of handling.
Rather than relying exclusively on vertical lifting to load and discharge every item, Ro-Ro operations use ramps and internal vehicle decks to facilitate horizontal movement. The precise arrangements differ between vessel designs, and a ship may combine Ro-Ro capacity with other cargo-handling capabilities.
ANVIL POINT's forward ramp structure and open deck arrangement are prominent features in the photograph. Containers are visible amidships, while the stern displays additional equipment associated with cargo operations. These visible features provide an opportunity to examine how the vessel's physical design differs from that of a conventional container ship.
The photograph does not, by itself, establish the cargo being carried, the status of the ramps or whether loading or discharge was taking place. It documents the vessel's external configuration at the time of the encounter.
Maritime Observation System
The Point-Class Sealift Connection
ANVIL POINT is associated with the Point-class Ro-Ro sealift fleet. This context is relevant because the class has a role connected with the movement of military equipment and other cargo requiring strategic transport capability.
Sealift vessels provide maritime transport capacity that complements other forms of military and logistical movement. Their Ro-Ro configuration is suited to wheeled vehicles and equipment that can be moved across ramps and cargo decks. Such vessels can therefore contribute to the movement of substantial loads without relying solely on conventional container-handling infrastructure.
This broader context helps explain why ANVIL POINT is of interest beyond its appearance as a commercial cargo ship. Nevertheless, the vessel's class and potential capabilities must be distinguished from the purpose of any particular voyage. The photograph does not establish whether the vessel was carrying military cargo, commercial cargo or a mixed load during the Cape Town observation.
A responsible maritime account records the vessel's documented class while avoiding speculation about its cargo, charter or operational assignment.
V&A Waterfront Cape Town Photography
Reading the Photograph
The photograph provides several useful points of visual interpretation.
The green hull dominates the composition, with the name ANVIL POINT clearly visible on the forward section. Above it, the lighter-coloured superstructure contrasts with the yellow funnel carrying the FSL emblem. The funnel and accommodation block create a recognisable visual reference that supports comparison with other photographs of the same vessel.
The forward ramp structure is another important feature. Its raised profile distinguishes the bow from the more conventional stem of many merchant vessels. The open central deck, visible containers and stern equipment reinforce the vessel's specialised cargo configuration.
The sea and horizon provide environmental context, while the vessel's broadside presentation makes it possible to examine much of its length in a single frame. This perspective is particularly useful for maritime documentation because it reveals the relationship between the bow, cargo area, accommodation block and stern.
Photography can establish these visible characteristics, but it has limits. It cannot independently verify a vessel's displacement, cargo manifest, precise draft, engine output or operational status. Such particulars require supporting records.
The MOS approach therefore treats the photograph as primary visual evidence while using maritime databases and other reliable sources to establish the vessel's identity and technical context.
Table Bay Maritime Environment Through Photography
The Table Bay Observation: Reference Points and Movement
Milnerton Lighthouse and the V&A Waterfront provide useful geographical reference points for observing vessels along Cape Town's coastline. From the Milnerton side of Table Bay, the relationship between these landmarks helps situate a vessel within the wider maritime environment.
The earlier observation of ANVIL POINT recorded the ship positioned squarely between these reference points. Subsequent field notes described movement towards the port entrance and the involvement of the tug USIBA in manoeuvring the larger vessel.
This sequence is significant as an observation of maritime activity. A large vessel approaching or entering port may require assistance and careful coordination, depending on its circumstances, prevailing conditions and the port's operating procedures. Tug assistance can contribute to manoeuvring, but the precise purpose and instructions for a particular tug operation should not be inferred from proximity alone.
The field observation also noted a smaller craft near ANVIL POINT's stern. Its size and distance prevented reliable identification. It should therefore remain recorded as an unidentified craft rather than being assigned a vessel name or operational function.
The distinction between observed movement and confirmed port operations is important. The observation establishes that ANVIL POINT was moving towards the port entrance and that USIBA was involved in manoeuvring. The precise operational sequence, the smaller craft's purpose and the vessel's eventual movements require independent confirmation if they are to be described in greater detail.
Tug Assistance and Port Manoeuvring
Tugs are an important component of port operations. Their manoeuvrability and ability to exert force at relatively low speeds can assist larger ships when turning, positioning or negotiating confined waters.
A vessel of ANVIL POINT's dimensions presents a substantial profile above and below the waterline. Wind, current, available sea room, vessel handling characteristics and the configuration of the port approach can all influence manoeuvring requirements.
The observation of USIBA alongside or near ANVIL POINT provides a valuable photographic and observational link between the larger cargo vessel and the supporting maritime activity around it. It demonstrates why ship spotting can reveal more than the movements of an individual ship: it can also document relationships between vessels during a shared operation.
However, the precise nature of USIBA's involvement should be described according to the evidence available. The field notes record tug-assisted manoeuvring; they do not establish the tug's assigned position, the master's instructions or the details of the vessel-handling plan.
For MOS documentation, this distinction preserves the value of the observation without converting a visual sequence into an unsupported operational narrative.
ANVIL POINT Within Cape Town's Maritime Environment
Cape Town's maritime landscape connects a working port with coastal navigation, offshore movements and international shipping routes. Vessels observed from the Milnerton coastline may be approaching port, departing, waiting offshore or passing through the wider Table Bay area.
ANVIL POINT's distinctive Ro-Ro configuration makes it a useful subject within this environment. Its design invites questions about cargo handling, strategic transport capacity and the different functions performed by merchant vessels.
The observation also demonstrates the value of geographical reference points. Recording a ship's position relative to Milnerton Lighthouse and the V&A Waterfront creates a repeatable description that can be compared with future observations. It is not a substitute for coordinates, but it preserves the photographer's original visual reference system and the context in which the encounter was recorded.
The photograph becomes more valuable when linked to the observation date, time, location description and any supporting AIS information. These elements distinguish one encounter from the vessel's many other movements recorded in maritime databases.
The MOS Framework: From Photograph to Research Record
The Maritime Observation System follows the sequence Observe, Photograph, Identify, Investigate, Document, Archive and Interpret.
In the case of ANVIL POINT, observation established the vessel's position relative to the Cape Town reference points and recorded its movement towards port. Photography preserved the vessel's external appearance. Identification connected the visible name to IMO 9248540, while investigation supplied its Ro-Ro classification and published particulars.
Documentation integrates these elements into a coherent account. Archiving connects the image to the vessel record, observation record and source references. Interpretation places the encounter within the broader context of Ro-Ro shipping, tug assistance and Cape Town's maritime environment.
The resulting record can contribute to the MIA research database, where the vessel, observation, photograph and research sources should remain separate but linked entities. This structure allows a single vessel to have multiple observations and photographs over time without duplicating its underlying identity.
The process also supports future research. New photographs, verified port movements or additional vessel-history information can be added to the record without losing the provenance of the original observation.
Conclusion
ANVIL POINT (IMO 9248540) is a distinctive Ro-Ro cargo vessel whose photograph offers a useful record of specialised maritime transport. Its long green hull, forward ramp, central accommodation block, FSL funnel and stern equipment provide clear visual evidence of its configuration.
The Table Bay observation adds another dimension. The vessel's position between Milnerton Lighthouse and the V&A Waterfront reference points, its subsequent movement towards the port entrance and the recorded involvement of tug USIBA place the photograph within a wider sequence of maritime activity.
The unidentified smaller craft remains an unresolved observation, and the exact operational details of the manoeuvre should not be overstated. Maintaining these distinctions strengthens the credibility of the essay and preserves the research value of the original field notes.
Through the MOS framework, ANVIL POINT becomes more than a ship photographed off Cape Town. It becomes a documented maritime encounter linked to a stable vessel identifier, a photographic record, geographical reference points and research sources for subsequent MIA database integration.
Photographic Equipment
Cameras: Canon EOS R6 Mark III
Lenses: Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM
Photographic Genre: Maritime Photography / Ship Spotting
Post Processing: Adobe Lightroom Classic Version 15
Lighthouse Reference Points
Green Point Lighthouse
Milnerton Lighthouse
Robben Island Lighthouse
V&A Waterfront: A Table Bay Reference Point
Maritime Location: Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
