LUCERNE (IMO 5213511) Table Bay, Cape Town
LUCERNE (IMO 5213511): South African Fishing Vessel | Maritime Observation System
LUCERNE (IMO 5213511) is a South African fishing vessel documented through maritime photography, vessel identification and historical research. |
| LUCERNE (5213511) Table Bay, Cape Town |
Photographer's Note: LUCERNE (IMO 5213511) 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.
Vessel Identification and Particulars
LUCERNE (IMO 5213511) is identified in maritime tracking databases as a fishing vessel operating under the South African flag. Its IMO number provides the primary reference for connecting the photographed vessel with available maritime records.
The following particulars establish the basis of the MOS vessel profile:
- Vessel name: LUCERNE
- IMO number: 5213511
- MMSI: 601493000
- Callsign: ZR2579
- Vessel type: Fishing vessel
- Flag state: South Africa
- Year built: 1959, according to available vessel databases
- Reported gross tonnage: 324 GT in some databases
- Reported length: Conflicting figures appear across vessel-tracking sources
Sources: VesselTracker, Maritime Optima and AIS-related vessel databases.
An important consideration when researching older vessels is that online databases do not always display consistent technical particulars. For LUCERNE, some sources report dimensions of approximately 14 metres by 6 metres, while others list a length of 39 metres and a beam of 8 metres. These figures should not be combined or treated as definitive without verification against a reliable vessel register.
For the MOS archive, the IMO number remains the most useful identifier. Technical particulars can be refined as more authoritative information becomes available.
A Fishing Vessel in the Cape Town Maritime Environment
Cape Town's maritime environment includes commercial shipping, fishing activity, harbour operations and vessels moving between coastal waters and offshore areas. Fishing vessels form an important part of this wider maritime landscape, representing an industry with operational requirements that differ from those of cargo ships, tankers and passenger vessels.
LUCERNE's identification as a South African fishing vessel places it within this maritime context. Its inclusion in the MOS archive expands the range of vessel types documented through coastal observation and photography.
A vessel photograph can record the hull profile, superstructure, visible deck equipment, markings and overall appearance. These details help distinguish one vessel from another and may provide useful clues about its design and function.
However, visual characteristics should be interpreted carefully. A photograph alone cannot establish a vessel's precise fishing method, ownership, current operational status or the waters in which it is authorised to fish. Such information requires additional documentary evidence.
For LUCERNE, the combination of photographic observation and IMO-based research provides a practical starting point for building a more complete vessel record.
Maritime Observation System
Photographic Observation and Vessel Identification
The value of a maritime photograph extends beyond the immediate visual impression. Once a vessel has been identified, its image can be connected to information about its name, classification, flag state and recorded history.
The process begins with what is visible in the photograph. The vessel's silhouette, position on the water, visible markings and relationship to the surrounding maritime environment establish the observational record.
The next stage is identification. Comparing the visible vessel name with maritime reference sources helps confirm its identity. Where available, the IMO number provides a stronger link than the name alone, particularly when different databases use inconsistent naming conventions.
For LUCERNE, the identifier IMO 5213511 connects the photographic subject to records that also list MMSI 601493000 and callsign ZR2579.
The distinction between observation and research is important. The photograph records the vessel as it appeared at the time of capture; external databases provide information that may not be visible in the image. Maintaining this distinction supports accurate maritime documentation.
Table Bay Maritime Environment Through Photography
A Documented Incident in South African Waters
LUCERNE also appears in a reported maritime assistance incident off Duiker Island, near Hout Bay, on 2 June 2024.
According to a VesselTracker report, LUCERNE responded to a fishing vessel carrying 17 people that was taking on water several nautical miles offshore. LUCERNE reached the vessel and remained alongside as a precaution while its crew addressed the immediate problem. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and other responding services subsequently assisted in bringing the vessel safely towards Cape Town. The account describes LUCERNE returning to its fishing activity after the distressed vessel was handed over for further assistance.
Source: VesselTracker, Lucerne assisted troubled fishing vessel, 3 June 2024.
This reported incident adds a historical dimension to LUCERNE's vessel profile. It illustrates how a fishing vessel may also contribute to maritime assistance when another vessel encounters difficulties at sea.
The incident should be understood as a documented historical event rather than evidence of LUCERNE's present operational role. Nevertheless, it demonstrates the wider human and practical context within which fishing vessels operate.
For a maritime archive, such information can enrich the record when it is relevant, independently sourced and clearly distinguished from the photographer's direct observations.
The Table Bay, Cape Town Lighthouse Triangle
LUCERNE and the Maritime Observation System
The Maritime Observation System (MOS) follows a structured process for turning an individual vessel sighting into a documented maritime record:
OBSERVE → PHOTOGRAPH → IDENTIFY → INVESTIGATE → DOCUMENT → ARCHIVE → INTERPRET
Applied to LUCERNE, the process begins with the observation of the vessel and the creation of a photographic record. The visible vessel name and other distinguishing characteristics provide the initial identification clues.
The IMO number then supports further investigation through maritime databases. Relevant information can be recorded alongside the photograph, including the vessel's classification, flag state, alternative identifiers and any verified historical information.
The resulting record is archived with its associated image and metadata. This enables future retrieval and comparison with other vessels documented through the same system.
The final stage, interpretation, considers what the combined photograph and documentary research contribute to an understanding of maritime activity.
LUCERNE demonstrates that this process is applicable not only to large international cargo vessels but also to fishing vessels associated with South African waters.
Building a Structured Vessel Archive
The long-term value of MOS lies in the accumulation of individual vessel records. Each photograph adds to a growing collection that can be organised by vessel name, IMO number, category and observation context.
Fishing vessels such as LUCERNE broaden the archive beyond conventional commercial shipping. Their inclusion allows the collection to represent a wider variety of vessels encountered in the Cape Town maritime environment.
As the database grows, the records may also support comparisons between vessel categories, visible design characteristics and repeated observations over time. Such comparisons will be more meaningful when each entry includes consistent identifiers and reliable source information.
The archive must nevertheless distinguish between a vessel's documented characteristics and the circumstances of an individual sighting. A vessel's appearance in a photograph does not, on its own, establish its voyage, operational status or precise activity at the time.
Recording the observation date, vantage point and available identification evidence will therefore strengthen the value of the archive.
Conclusion: Preserving the Record of LUCERNE
LUCERNE adds another South African fishing vessel to the developing Maritime Observation System archive. Its IMO number, South African flag state and recorded history provide a documentary foundation for connecting the photograph to a wider maritime identity.
The available records also demonstrate why vessel research requires care. Conflicting technical particulars need to be verified rather than reproduced uncritically, while historical reports should remain distinct from direct photographic observations.
Through the MOS methodology, the photograph becomes part of a structured record that connects visual evidence with vessel identification and maritime research.
As additional fishing vessels and other maritime categories are documented, these individual records will contribute to a broader photographic reference archive of the vessels observed along Cape Town's coastline.
The objective remains consistent: to observe carefully, photograph purposefully, identify accurately and preserve the relationship between maritime imagery and verifiable information.
References
VesselTracker. (2024, June 3). Lucerne assisted troubled fishing vessel.
Maritime Optima. (n.d.). LUCERNE – Fishing vessel, IMO 5213511.
AISFriends. (n.d.). LUCERNE – Fishing vessel, IMO 5213511.
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
Maritime Location: Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
