NOMZAMO 1 (IMO 8704638) Table Bay, Cape Town
South African Fishing Vessel in Table Bay
NOMZAMO 1 (IMO 8704638), a South African fishing vessel photographed from Milnerton overlooking Table Bay on 4 November 2026.
Photographer’s Note: NOMZAMO 1 (IMO 8704638) Table Bay, Cape Town 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.
South African Fishing Vessel Observed in Table Bay
South Africa’s commercial fishing fleet forms an important part of the maritime activity observed along the Cape coastline. While container ships, tankers and bulk carriers often dominate the larger commercial shipping profile, fishing vessels provide another perspective on the working maritime environment.
On 4 November 2026, I photographed NOMZAMO 1 (IMO 8704638) from the Milnerton Lighthouse reference point, looking towards the Port of Cape Town.
The vessel’s blue hull, white superstructure and distinctive stern equipment immediately identified it as a working fishing vessel. Its South African fishing registration, ZR5493, is clearly visible on the side of the superstructure. The name NOMZAMO 1 is also displayed on the bow and aft section.
The photograph provides a useful record of a South African-registered fishing vessel operating in the Table Bay maritime environment.
The History of the Cape Town Fishing IndustryVessel Specifications
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Fishing Vessel / Trawler |
| IMO number | 8704638 |
| MMSI | 601367500 |
| Call sign | ZR5493 |
| Flag | South Africa |
| Year built | 1988 (38 years old) |
| Length | ~63 to 67 metres |
| Beam (width) | ~10 metres |
| Gross tonnage | 1,210 GT |
| Deadweight (DWT) | 1,000 DWT |
Vessel identification and particulars
NOMZAMO 1 is registered as a fishing vessel under IMO number 8704638. Its current recorded flag is South Africa, with MMSI 601367500 and call sign ZR5493.
Available vessel records indicate that NOMZAMO 1 was built in 1988. Published particulars give a length of approximately 63 to 67 metres and a beam of approximately 10 to 11 metres. Its gross tonnage is recorded as 1,210, with a summer deadweight of approximately 1,000 tonnes.
The variation in published dimensions is worth acknowledging. Vessel databases do not always present length measurements using identical fields, and the figures should not be treated as interchangeable without consulting a definitive vessel specification.
The IMO number provides the permanent identification reference. The MMSI and call sign provide additional identifiers used in maritime communications and vessel tracking.
A working fishing vessel
The photograph reveals a vessel designed around a substantial working deck and specialised fishing equipment.
The bridge and accommodation are positioned forward, providing the crew with visibility over the working areas. Behind the superstructure, the deck extends towards the stern, where a prominent gantry and associated machinery form the most distinctive part of the vessel’s profile.
The stern arrangement is particularly interesting. Fishing vessels operating with stern-based gear systems require equipment capable of deploying and recovering fishing gear safely and efficiently. The gantry visible in the photograph is consistent with this type of working configuration.
The photograph also shows substantial equipment and structures around the aft working area. These features distinguish NOMZAMO 1 from conventional merchant vessels, whose decks are generally configured around cargo holds, containers or specialised transport systems.
Although the visible arrangement provides useful clues about the vessel’s design, the photograph alone does not establish the exact fishing method, target species or operational activity taking place during the observation.
South African fishing registration
One of the most useful identification details in the photograph is the registration ZR5493.
This corresponds with the vessel’s recorded AIS call sign. The matching identifiers provide an additional connection between the photographic record and the available vessel information.
NOMZAMO 1 is recorded under the South African flag. Its national registration distinguishes it from foreign-flagged commercial fishing vessels that may also be observed in the wider Cape maritime environment.
South Africa’s fishing industry operates across several sectors and marine environments. Fishing vessels differ considerably in size, configuration and fishing method, depending on the resources they are licensed to pursue and the operational requirements of their particular fisheries.
NOMZAMO 1’s substantial dimensions and working-deck configuration make it a distinctive example of the larger vessels within this sector.
NOMZAMO 1 and the Port of Cape Town
The Port of Cape Town is an important location for commercial fishing activity as well as international shipping. Its maritime environment includes fishing vessels, cargo ships, service craft, passenger vessels and specialised working vessels.
AIS tracking records show previous Cape Town port calls by NOMZAMO 1 during 2026. These records provide historical context for the vessel’s association with the port.
However, the photograph taken on 4 November documents the vessel from the Milnerton Lighthouse reference point. It does not independently establish whether NOMZAMO 1 was entering the harbour, departing, waiting offshore or undertaking another activity.
The distinction matters. A vessel’s presence in Table Bay is a direct photographic observation. Its port status and operational purpose require additional evidence, such as a verified AIS track, port records or other reliable documentation.
The vessel’s appearance nevertheless adds another working fishing vessel to the growing Table Bay photographic archive.
MOS observation and documentation
The Maritime Observation System (MOS) connects field photography with vessel identification, investigation and structured documentation.
The observation of NOMZAMO 1 begins with the visible vessel name, IMO number and South African registration. The photographic evidence provides details of its hull, superstructure, working deck and stern equipment.
The next stage is the investigation of its registered particulars. The IMO number connects the photograph to vessel records, while the MMSI and call sign provide further identifiers for cross-referencing AIS information.
This process helps distinguish the vessel’s physical characteristics from its registered identity and operational history.
For the Table Bay Vessel Register, NOMZAMO 1 contributes to the fishing-vessel category. It also provides a useful comparison with SANTA PRINCESA (IMO 8609357), another fishing vessel previously photographed and documented in Cape Town Harbour.
Although both vessels belong to the same broad maritime sector, their individual profiles and photographic observations should remain separately documented.
A South African fishing vessel in Table Bay
NOMZAMO 1 offers a different perspective on the maritime activity visible from the Milnerton coastline. Its working-deck arrangement, stern gantry and prominent South African fishing registration distinguish it from the larger international cargo vessels that regularly pass through Table Bay.
The photograph records the vessel as observed on 4 November 2026. The supporting vessel particulars establish its identity, South African flag and fishing-vessel classification.
Through MOS, the observation becomes part of a growing record of the vessels that contribute to Cape Town’s maritime environment. Each addition strengthens the connection between photography, vessel identification and the wider documentation of Table Bay.
References
AIS Vessel Tracker. (n.d.). NOMZAMO 1 [Historical Cape Town port-call information and vessel tracking data].
NOMZAMO 1 vessel particulars. (n.d.). [Flag, IMO, MMSI, call sign, build year, tonnage and dimensions].
Wingo Marine. (n.d.). NOMZAMO 1 [Vessel record: South African flag, identifiers and alternative dimensions].
Photographic Equipment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Camera | Canon EOS R6 Mark III |
| Lens | 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 |
Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Intaka Island | Table Bay
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