TONG YOUNG NO. 805 (IMO 9929481) Table Bay, Cape Town
TONG YOUNG NO. 805: Korean Fishing Vessel | Maritime Observation System
A Maritime Observation System profile of TONG YOUNG NO. 805 (IMO 9929481), documenting a Korean fishing vessel through coastal photography, vessel identification and maritime research. |
| TONG YOUNG NO. 805 (IMO 9929481) Table Bay, Cape Town |
Photographer's Note: TONG YOUNG NO. 805 (IMO 9929481) 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.
A Korean Fishing Vessel in the Cape Town Maritime Environment
Maritime photography provides more than a visual record of ships passing along a coastline. When a vessel can be identified, researched and documented, a photograph becomes a starting point for understanding commercial fishing, vessel design, international maritime activity and the movement of ships through regional waters.TONG YOUNG NO. 805, identified by International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9929481, is a South Korean fishing vessel included in the growing Maritime Observation System (MOS) archive of Vernon Chalmers Photography.
The vessel is particularly interesting because its identity can be connected to fisheries registry information rather than relying solely on its visible appearance. Records published by the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) identify the vessel as a Korean-flagged jigger vessel associated with hooks-and-lines fishing gear. The Korean Register also lists the vessel under the name NO.805 TONGYOUNG. These records provide independent reference points for the MOS documentation process (Korean Register, n.d.; North Pacific Fisheries Commission [NPFC], n.d.).
The purpose of this essay is to establish a documented vessel profile, connect the available registry information to maritime photography, and demonstrate how an individual observation contributes to a wider record of shipping and fishing activity around Cape Town.
Vessel Identification and Particulars
TONG YOUNG NO. 805 is a fishing vessel built in 2021. Its IMO number provides the principal identifier for connecting the photographic record with external maritime databases.
The following particulars are drawn from the Korean Register and NPFC vessel records.
- Vessel name: TONG YOUNG NO. 805
- Alternative registered rendering: NO.805 TONGYOUNG
- IMO number: 9929481
- Vessel category: Fishing vessel
- Flag state: Republic of Korea
- Port of registry: Busan, Republic of Korea
- Year built: 2021
- Length overall: 66.36 metres in the NPFC record
- Beam: 11.00 metres
- Gross tonnage: 1,336 in the NPFC record
- Recorded engine power: 2,200 kW
- Fishing classification: Jigger vessel
- Recorded gear category: Hooks and lines
The vessel's particulars illustrate why an IMO number is valuable to maritime photographers. Names may appear with different spacing or word order across databases, while a unique vessel identifier provides a more reliable basis for connecting records.
For the MOS archive, the photographed name should be retained as it appears on the vessel whenever it is legible. The IMO number then serves as the principal cross-reference for further research.
Understanding the Vessel's Fishing Classification
The NPFC record identifies TONG YOUNG NO. 805 as a jigger vessel and associates it with hooks-and-lines fishing gear. The same record lists Japanese flying squid and neon flying squid among its authorised target species for the period recorded.
This information adds an important operational dimension to the photographic record. The vessel is not simply a fishing boat identified by its silhouette or equipment; it belongs to a documented category of fishing activity associated with particular gear and target species.
Jigging is a fishing method in which fishing lines fitted with specialised lures or jigs are worked to attract and catch fish or squid. The exact onboard equipment and fishing arrangements of TONG YOUNG NO. 805 should, however, not be inferred from its classification alone. A photograph may reveal visible deck structures, rigging, lighting arrangements or other equipment, but those features require careful interpretation and, where necessary, corroboration from technical records.
The distinction matters in documentary photography. A vessel's registered classification provides a verified starting point; the photographer's observations provide additional evidence, but should not be presented as confirmed operational facts without adequate support.
The NPFC listing is therefore particularly useful for moving beyond a general ship identification towards a more informative fisheries-related record.
Maritime Photography as Evidence
A photograph of TONG YOUNG NO. 805 contributes to the MOS archive through two complementary forms of information.
The first is visual evidence. Depending on the available frame, this can include the vessel's profile, superstructure, hull markings, visible fishing equipment, colour scheme and relationship to the surrounding sea. The image also preserves the appearance of the vessel at a particular moment, from a particular observation point and under the prevailing photographic conditions.
The second is documentary evidence. The vessel's name, IMO number, flag state, construction year and fishing classification connect the image to external records. Together, these elements create a more useful reference than either an isolated photograph or an unlinked database entry.
The distinction is central to the MOS approach. The image records what the photographer could observe; the registry provides information that cannot necessarily be established from the image itself.
For example, a photograph may show a fishing vessel operating offshore, but it cannot independently establish its authorised target species, ownership, registration status or current fishing permissions. Those questions require documentary research.
Likewise, the existence of a registry entry does not prove that the vessel was engaged in fishing at the moment it was photographed. Its activity at the time of observation must be recorded separately and supported by the available evidence.
This separation between observation and interpretation strengthens the reliability of the resulting maritime record.
Maritime Observation System
TONG YOUNG NO. 805 in the Cape Town Maritime Context
Cape Town provides an observation environment in which vessels can be photographed against the open sea, approaching or departing maritime areas, or moving along the wider coastline. From a suitable coastal vantage point, a photographer can record vessels without needing to be aboard them or have direct access to port facilities.
For the MOS project, this is an important characteristic of the photographic method. Observations made from the coastline provide a consistent visual perspective from which different vessel categories can gradually be documented.
Fishing vessels add a distinct dimension to this collection. Cargo ships, tankers, bulk carriers and passenger vessels are associated with different maritime functions. Fishing vessels introduce the additional subject of marine resource extraction and the international fishing industry.
TONG YOUNG NO. 805 extends the diversity of the developing Cape Town vessel archive by adding a documented Korean fishing vessel to the collection.
Its recorded Korean registration and fisheries classification establish an international connection, while the Cape Town observation provides the local photographic context. This combination illustrates how a coastal photograph can connect a local observation with a vessel's wider maritime identity.
The photograph should not, by itself, be interpreted as proof of the vessel's fishing grounds, voyage purpose or precise route. Such conclusions would require additional evidence, such as appropriately dated AIS records, official voyage information or fisheries documentation.
The MOS record is strongest when it preserves that distinction while still allowing the photograph to initiate further investigation.
Table Bay Maritime Environment Through Photography
The Maritime Observation System: From Observation to Interpretation
The TONG YOUNG NO. 805 record follows the seven-stage MOS methodology.
1. Observe
Identify a vessel within the available maritime environment. Record its visible characteristics, position relative to the observation point and any notable conditions affecting the photograph.
2. Photograph
Create a clear photographic record suitable for vessel identification and future reference. Readable vessel markings and a recognisable profile can be particularly valuable.
3. Identify
Match the observed vessel with its name and IMO number. For this vessel, IMO 9929481 provides the principal identification reference.
4. Investigate
Consult relevant maritime and fisheries sources to establish the vessel's classification, flag state, construction details and documented fishing characteristics.
5. Document
Combine the photographic evidence with verified particulars, source references and observation notes. Distinguish information established by the photograph from information obtained through research.
6. Archive
Preserve the image and its associated metadata within the MOS vessel database. Use the IMO number to support consistent identification and retrieval.
7. Interpret
Consider what the combined visual and documentary record contributes to an understanding of maritime activity. In this case, the vessel provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between coastal observation, international fishing operations and fisheries registration.
These stages turn an individual photograph into a structured documentary resource. As the archive expands, the same process can support comparisons between vessel categories, repeated observations and changing maritime patterns.
The Table Bay, Cape Town Lighthouse Triangle
Building a Longitudinal Maritime Archive
An individual vessel record establishes identity and context, but the broader value of MOS will develop through the accumulation of observations over time.
Repeatedly documenting different vessels from a consistent coastal vantage point creates the potential for a more systematic study of the maritime environment. Over a sufficiently large sample, the archive may help reveal which vessel categories are most frequently observed, how their visible characteristics differ and how the composition of photographed maritime traffic changes over time.
Fishing vessels can form a useful category within such a study. Their presence alongside cargo vessels, tankers, bulk carriers and other maritime traffic broadens the scope of the archive beyond conventional commercial shipping.
However, a photographic archive must be interpreted carefully. The number of photographs does not necessarily equal the number of individual vessels, and the frequency with which a vessel appears in the archive does not directly measure its activity at sea. Observation location, weather, visibility, focal length, photographic opportunities and identification confidence all influence the resulting sample.
The MOS database can help address these limitations by recording each vessel's IMO number, observation date, photographic context and source information. These fields make it possible to distinguish unique vessels from repeated sightings and to evaluate the circumstances under which observations were made.
TONG YOUNG NO. 805 therefore contributes both an individual vessel profile and an additional data point within the developing maritime archive.
Conclusion: A Photograph Connected to Maritime Knowledge
TONG YOUNG NO. 805 demonstrates how maritime photography can progress from visual recognition to structured documentation.
Its identity as a Korean fishing vessel, its IMO number and its documented classification as a jigger vessel provide a factual basis for interpreting the photograph. The associated fisheries registry information adds context that cannot be established from appearance alone.
Within Vernon Chalmers Photography, the Maritime Observation System brings these elements together through a repeatable process of observation, photography, identification, investigation, documentation, archiving and interpretation.
The result is not simply a collection of vessel images. It is a developing maritime reference archive in which photographs are connected to identifiable ships and verifiable information.
As further vessels are documented from Cape Town's coastal observation points, individual records such as TONG YOUNG NO. 805 will contribute to a broader understanding of the diversity of maritime activity visible along the coastline.
The photograph preserves the observation. The IMO number anchors the identity. The research provides context. The archive preserves the relationship between them.
References
Korean Register. (n.d.). Register of ships: NO.805 TONGYOUNG (IMO No. 9929481).
North Pacific Fisheries Commission. (n.d.). No.805 TONG YONG (NPFC Vessel ID 1851).
VesselFinder. (n.d.). NO.805 TONG YOUNG — Fishing vessel, IMO 9929481.
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
