VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650) Table Bay, Cape Town
A Geared Bulk Carrier in Table Bay
VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650), a 55,794-tonne geared bulk carrier photographed in Table Bay, Cape Town, on 3 November 2026 |
| VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650) Table Bay, Cape Town |
Photographer's Note: VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650) 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.
VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650)
The arrival of another commercial vessel in Table Bay provides an opportunity to document a different aspect of international maritime transport. On 3 November 2026, I photographed VSC POLLUX (IMO 9692650) from the Milnerton Lighthouse reference point, with the V&A Waterfront forming the background geographical reference.The vessel's long hull, three prominent deck cranes and aft-positioned superstructure give it a distinctive profile. Unlike container ships, where cargo is carried in standardised containers stacked above and below deck, VSC POLLUX is designed for the transport of dry bulk commodities. Its onboard cargo-handling equipment is an important part of its operational configuration.
Vessel Specifications
- IMO Number: 9692650
- MMSI: 636016353
- Call Sign: D5FT2
- Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
- Year Built: 2014
- Length Overall (LOA): 190 meters
- Beam (Width): 32.26 meters
- Gross Tonnage: 31,538
- Deadweight (DWT): 55,794 tons
Vessel identification and particulars
VSC POLLUX is registered as a bulk carrier under the flag of Liberia. The vessel was built in 2014 by Japan Marine United Corporation at its Kure Shipyard in Japan. Its IMO number, 9692650, provides the permanent identification reference used in maritime records.
According to the ClassNK register, the vessel has an overall length of 190 metres and a beam of 32.26 metres. Its gross tonnage is 31,538, with a recorded deadweight of 55,794 tonnes.
These dimensions place VSC POLLUX among substantial ocean-going bulk carriers. Its design is intended to transport large quantities of dry cargo between international ports.
Table Bay Vessel Register
A geared bulk carrier
One of the most immediately noticeable features in the photograph is the arrangement of three cargo cranes positioned along the vessel's main deck.
These cranes distinguish VSC POLLUX as a geared bulk carrier. A geared vessel carries its own cargo-handling equipment, allowing it to load or discharge cargo where suitable shore-based cranes may not be available or where onboard equipment is required for the operation.
This capability can provide operational flexibility across ports with different cargo-handling infrastructure. It does not mean that every cargo operation takes place independently of port facilities. Loading and discharge arrangements depend on the terminal, cargo type, available equipment and operational requirements.
The three cranes are clearly visible in the Table Bay photograph. Their presence is an important photographic observation, while the vessel's classification and technical particulars provide the supporting identification.
Maritime Observation System
Bulk cargo and vessel design
Bulk carriers transport unpackaged commodities in large quantities. Typical cargoes across the dry bulk shipping sector include iron ore, coal, grain, fertilisers and various mineral products.
The cargo is generally carried in large holds beneath the main deck. The vessel's internal arrangement, hatch covers and cargo spaces are designed around the handling and transport requirements of these commodities.
ClassNK records VSC POLLUX as a bulk carrier and identifies specific design provisions for strengthened heavy-cargo loading. The register also records a substantial cargo capacity, reflecting the vessel's role in international bulk transport.
However, the vessel's classification does not identify what it was carrying during the Table Bay observation. The photograph does not provide sufficient evidence to establish the cargo aboard, and no particular commodity should be attributed to this voyage without additional documentation.
V&A Waterfront Cape Town Photography
Technical characteristics
VSC POLLUX has a recorded deadweight of 55,794 tonnes. Deadweight is a measure of the total weight a vessel can carry, including cargo, fuel, fresh water, stores, crew and other variable loads. It should not be confused with the weight of the vessel itself or the quantity of cargo carried on a particular voyage.
The vessel's registered gross tonnage of 31,538 is also not a measure of weight. Gross tonnage is a volume-based measure used for regulatory and administrative purposes.
The vessel is powered by a single main diesel engine rated at 7,910 kW, according to the ClassNK register. This machinery supports the propulsion requirements of a large commercial vessel operating on international routes.
Together, its dimensions, deadweight and cargo-handling arrangement illustrate the scale of infrastructure required to move bulk commodities by sea.
Table Bay Maritime Environment Through Photography
VSC POLLUX and the Port of Cape Town
Cape Town's position on major international shipping routes makes Table Bay an important observation point for commercial maritime activity. Vessels passing the coastline represent a wide range of shipping sectors, from container transport and refrigerated cargo to research, passenger and specialised project vessels.
VSC POLLUX adds another bulk carrier to the growing Table Bay Vessel Register. Its presence also provides an opportunity to examine the relationship between vessel design and the practical requirements of cargo transport.
Publicly available AIS information recorded the vessel heading towards Cape Town on 3 November 2026, with its reported destination listed as Cape Town. This provides useful voyage context, although AIS destination information is not, by itself, confirmation of a specific cargo operation or port assignment.
The photograph documents the vessel from the Milnerton Lighthouse square with the V&A Waterfront as the reference point. From this coastal perspective, the full length of the ship and the arrangement of its deck cranes are clearly visible.
MOS observation and documentation
The Maritime Observation System (MOS) approaches ship photography as the starting point for a broader documentation process.
The observation of VSC POLLUX begins with its visible name, hull configuration, deck cranes and overall profile. The IMO number then provides the link to authoritative vessel records, allowing the photographic subject to be connected to its registered identity and technical characteristics.
This distinction between observation and investigation is important. The photograph establishes what was visible at the time of documentation. Classification records provide the vessel's registered particulars, while AIS information offers additional voyage context. Each source contributes a different part of the record.
For the Table Bay Vessel Register, this creates a consistent foundation for identifying and documenting commercial vessels. Over time, the accumulated records provide a broader picture of the different types of ships operating along the Cape Town coastline.
A working bulk carrier in Table Bay
VSC POLLUX is a practical example of the commercial vessels that support international commodity transport. Its three visible deck cranes, substantial dimensions and bulk carrier classification distinguish it from the container ships and specialised cargo vessels also recorded in Table Bay.
The photograph captures more than a passing ship. It provides a visual record that can be connected to technical documentation, vessel identification and the wider maritime environment.
Through MOS, each observation becomes part of an expanding maritime reference archive, linking photography with structured vessel information and researched context.
References
ClassNK provides the principal vessel particulars, classification, flag, builder, construction date and machinery details: ClassNK Register of Ships.VesselFinder independently records the bulk carrier classification, dimensions, build year and tonnage: VesselFinder vessel record.
AIS voyage context for 3 November 2026: VSC POLLUX AIS information.
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
