How Do You Use A Marine Anchor Properly?

To fully utilize the emergency role of anchor equipment in the safe operation of ships, when the ship is sailing in complex waters, particularly when entering and leaving ports, anchorages, waterways, berthing and unberthing navigation operations, in order to prevent accidents, such as the sudden stop of the main engine, accidents, or reduce accident losses, it is necessary to prepare double anchors on time in accordance with regulations and safety requirements, so t

How Do You Use a Marine Anchor Properly?

The Common Urgency Could Occur While Sailing

When the ship loses control due to a breakdown of the steering gear or the main engine, the first thought should be to drop anchor in the nearest safe sea region to avoid accidents such as collisions and grounding. The timing and technique of this emergency anchoring request are more specific, because ship control loss frequently occurs quickly and without warning, catching the ship operator off guard. As a result, it is critical to have a cool head at this moment, and the manipulator should make a decision based on the ship's current position. In the event of an emergency breakdown, the short anchor should be dropped as soon as possible, and the chain should be loosened to the required chain length all at once (generally twice the water depth), and the anchor chain should be released when the anchor chain is not stressed. If the anchor chain is tightly braked, the ship will drag the anchor and sail to control the ship's remaining speed and eventually stop. If the anchor chain is not properly braked before the force is applied, it is often impossible to stabilize it again, and all of the anchor chains will flow out, burning the brake belt, damaging the windlass, and causing other problems.

How Do You Use a Marine Anchor Properly?

How Do You Determine the Location of an Anchor?

As a result, in order to properly drop the anchor and achieve our aim, we must carefully examine the surrounding environment and choose an anchor strategy based on the ship's actual speed, draft, tonnage, and sediment. When the short chain breaks down and brakes, the requisite chain length is usually thrown all at once and then braked instantly. Simultaneously, when the inertial forward ship utilizes emergency anchoring to brake the "brake", the dragging distance can be computed using the following formula:

S=(m+mx)vo2/2(Rm+Pm)

S stands for drag anchor drift distance.

m+mx: the ship's mass in the forward direction;

vo: the ship's initial speed;

Rm: the average hull resistance when the ship comes to a halt.

Pm: The average anchor holding force when the ship comes to a complete stop (average drag anchor resistance = 2 times anchor weight).

Remember These Two Anchor Usage Methods

1. If an anchor is lost when anchoring, another anchor should be added as soon as possible.

In anchorages with turbulent water and poor bottom quality, or in inclement weather such as heavy wind and waves, the skipper must be extremely vigilant for the occurrence of anchor walking, order the pilot on duty to increase the anchoring duty, and include the anchoring duty in the daily "Night Sailing Order" Inform the driver on duty about the dangers of anchor loss and the emergency steps that must be done if anchor loss occurs, and encourage them to strengthen anchor observation during their shift. When it is discovered that the anchor has been lost and the main engine is not ready for use, the officer on duty must instantly add another anchor and bring it with force, while also immediately reporting to the master and the adjacent anchored ships. At this point, the captain should carefully and thoroughly analyze the relevant conditions, and can appropriately loosen the anchor chain and the motor car to assist the anchor in stabilizing in a safe position as soon as possible, but should avoid moving the anchor blindly and immediately, particularly in strong wind and waves. Accidents induced by a lack of ship control teach us valuable lessons. If the anchorage situation is safe and possible at this time, the anchor should be hoisted immediately and the motor vehicle driven to a safe water region to re-anchor after a thorough study and on-site inspection.

2. To enhance safety in narrow rivers, use anchor-assist winches and fenders.

How Do You Use a Marine Anchor Properly?

Because of the interaction between the ship and the quay wall, or the near meeting with other ships, or the shallow water depth, etc., it is simple for the ship to quickly deflect or avoid other ships while sailing in the narrow channel. When a ship does not turn or faces a large turn, the ship suction or shore wall effect may occur, putting the ship in danger of colliding with or hitting a reef. Take prompt and decisive action to aid the winch and fender in order to avoid accidents. Sailing with anchors in tight canals is thus not only one of the obligatory safety precautions, but also an expression of fully utilizing superior boating skills.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the anchor is one of the three elements of "winch, fender, and anchor" in the captain's control of the ship, and it plays an important role in ship movement and safety. And ships entering and departing ports, turning around, leaving docks, resisting typhoons, and so on are all inextricably linked to anchors. To maintain the safety of the ship, the captain of a ship must be better familiar with the characteristics and purposes of anchors, as well as master the time and techniques of operating anchors and emergency anchors.

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