Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anchoring and Anchoring Procedures
Anchoring and Anchoring Procedures
• Number of incident during anchoring or while at anchor suggest that we might not have yet
mastered the art of anchoring a ship effectively
• Knowing about the correct anchoring procedures and their limitations is one of the best way
to avoid anchoring related fatalities and damages
HOW AN ANCHOR HOLDS THE SHIP?
• when an anchor is dropped, the crown of the anchor is the first to hit the sea bottom. as the ship
moves back, the flukes takes its position and embed itself into the sea bed
• it does not matter from what height the anchor is dropped, the crown will alway hit the bottom
first.
• the flukes will only dig into the sea bed once the ship moves aft and flukes are facing
downwards in to the sea bottom
HOW AN ANCHOR HOLDS THE SHIP?
• all other factors being common, there are three things that affects holding power of anchors:
• first is the construction of anchor
• second is the nature of seabed
• third is the scope of the cable
HOLDING POWER DUE TO ANCHOR
CONSTRUCTION
• a ship’s equipment number decides the weight of the anchor and length of the chain
• the fluke area determines the holding power of the anchor
• international association of classification societies (iacs) governs the rules for anchors
• iacs enlist three types of anchors:
1. normal holding power anchors
2. high holding power anchors
3. super high holding power anchors
HOLDING POWER DUE TO ANCHOR
CONSTRUCTION
HOLDING POWER DUE TO ANCHOR
CONSTRUCTION
• even though anchor weight has nothing to do with holding power per se, it contributes to some
extent in holding a ship in its position
• more weight of the anchor would need more force to push the ship from its position
• for this reason, anchor weight is more often used as a function of holding power
HOLDING POWER DUE TO NATURE OF SEABED
• correct scope is essential for safe anchoring and better holding of the anchor
• scope is the ratio of depth of the water to the length of the cable deployed
• more the scope, better an anchor will hold the ship
• the idea of having more scope is that the angle of chain with respect to sea bottom should be
minimum
• more the angle, lesser the holding power
HOLDING POWER DUE TO SCOPE OF THE
ANCHOR CABLE
• as a thumb rule, scope of 6 is advisable for anchoring
• that is when anchoring into a depth of 20 meters, we should pay at least 120 meters of cable
• when anchoring in areas of strong wind or current, we should have scope of more than 6, up to 10
sometimes
PREPARING FOR ANCHORING
• preparing the vessel for anchoring can start days before arrival
• master checks the charts for marked anchorage areas days before arrival
• anchorage area for the vessel could also be suggested in the agent’s pre-arrival message
PREPARING FOR ANCHORING
• when checking the charts for underwater obstructions, attention should be paid to the chart symbol
“#”
• this symbol means there is a foul ground and shall be avoided for anchoring
• it is also important to be aware of the ship’s windlass lifting capacity
• most of the ship’s windlass are able to lift the weight of the anchor and about 3 shackles
PREPARING FOR ANCHORING
ANCHOR GEAR
• anchor gear (or ground tackle) is located on the forecastle and consists of all the equipment used in
anchoring
• this includes:
the anchors
the anchor windlass
anchor cables or chain
chain stoppers and the connecting devices (shackles, swivels)
etc.
ANCHOR GEAR
ANCHOR GEAR
• a ship is normally fitted with ten shackles (shots in us) of cable, each shackle about 27.5 metres in length,
and connected to another shackle (length of chain) by an accessory fitting called kenter joining- shackle
• the cable is secured on the forecastle deck by stoppers, devil-claws and anchor lashings
• the chain is held by the windlass brake
• an anchor windlass is a machine that restrains and manipulates the anchor chain, allowing the anchor to
be raised and lowered
• brake is provided for control and the windlass is usually powered by an electric or hydraulic motor
operating via a gear train
ANCHOR GEAR
ANCHORING PROCEDURE
• prior to any anchoring operation, crew involved in operation is gathered and toolbox meeting is
held.
• during toolbox meeting, “risk assessment” is carried out and crew involved in operation are being
familiarized with dangers involved in operation in hand
• once captain calls “anchor crew proceed to anchor station” crew is well prepared and ready for
task in hand
ANCHORING PROCEDURE
• master identifys a suitable anchoring position before entering the anchorage area, conducts a
planned approach including speed reduction in ample time and orienting the ships head prior
anchoring
• once the ship is close to anchorage area, crew is called to anchor station
• the chief officer (or another experienced officer in lieu) must supervise letting go or weighing the
anchors and should only assign experienced crew members to anchor work
• master decides on which method of anchoring to be used and the number of shackles depending
on the depth of water, expected weather and holding ground
ANCHORING PROCEDURE
1. standard condition:
length of cable = [(depth of water in meters * 2) + 90 ] / 27.5
• once anchor position is set and vessel holds it position, anchor watch is set on the bridge
• vessel engine is usually set to short notice or to stand by which is on masters discretion
• modern radar system have integrated option for anchor watch so once the position is set and
radius of safety circle decided. radar automatically keeps track of ships movement
• it is also important that anchoring check list is followed and carried out (ref. to company ISM
manual)
Rev. 12/13
Whilst at anchor
1. Determine and plot ship position as soon as anchored. Establish
swinging circle
ANCHOR WATCH
Wilhelmsen Ship Management B08
Rev. 12/13 2. Anchor brakes on, stopper engaged. Anchor windlass disengaged.
3. Have instructions been issued to the OOW on determining and
regular checking of anchor position using minimum two methods.
Bridge Procedures - Anchoring and Anchor Watch Check List 4. Ensure that the state of readiness of the main engines and other
machinery is maintained in accordance with Master’s instructions
Vessel : _________________ Notice for engines______________________
5. Comply with Bridge Procedure Manual & SSMM Ch 7.28
Preparations 6. Proper lookout maintained. Watch level established as per BPM.
Item Description Check Initials
7. GPS anchor watch alarm ON? Alarm is set on 1)____ NM 2)____NM
1. Has an anchoring plan been prepared?
8. Echo sounder alarm ON ?Alarm is set on: DW_____ Mtr, SW____Mtr
2. Does it take into account speed reduction in ample time?
9. Weather forecast received/checked and reported to Master/ Engine
3. Does it take into account direction/strength of wind, sea & current? room in case of expected weather deterioration?
Call Master if winds reaches _________ knots or dragging anchor is
4. Does it take into account tidal stream when manoeuvring at low
suspected
speeds
10. VHF watch established/maintained on dedicated channels?
5. Has the Depth of Water and Nature of the Sea Bed at the proposed
anchor position been taken into consideration? VHF log maintained?
Dedicated channels are : 1) _______ 2)_______ 3)________
6. Does it take into account the need for adequate sea room, particularly
to seaward? 11. Frequent monitoring of ships and nearest targets established as per
Anchor position log? Frequency of plotting position is ______ MIN
7. Master informed of the time of”stand by” for anchoring?
12. Anchoring equipments limitations know to all (sea and weather
8. Engine room informed of the time of”stand by” for anchoring? conditions)
9. Anchor Party informed of the time of”stand by” for anchoring? 13. If bad weather is expected, leaving anchorage to be considered
10. Anchor(s) ready for use? 14. Ensure that the ship exhibits the appropriate lights and shapes and
that appropriate sound signals are made in accordance with all
11. Lights/shapes and sound signalling apparatus ready for use?
applicable regulations.
12. Sound signalling apparatus ready for use? 15. Is S-VDR / VDR operational
13. Has an anchor watch been established? 16. Conduct and record fire/ safety/ security rounds of the ship
14. 17. Ensure access control is maintained in respect of vessel security
Scope of anchor cable required. ________________
18. Take measures to protect the environment from pollution by the ship
15. Has the anchor position been reported to the port authority? and comply with applicable pollution regulations.
16. Vessel specific Risk Assessment for anchoring consulted Enter in Deck Log Book when completed
ANCHOR WATCH
• Drag Circle
r = chain + dist. (hawsepipe to pelorus)
Drag Circle
All subsequent fixes should fall within the drag circle; if they do
not, the anchor should be considered to be dragging
Anchor Chain
Anchor Location
• Swing Circle
r = chain + ship
Verify there are no obstructions (above, below or on the water)
within the ship’s Swing circle Swing Circle
ANCHORING (CONCLUSION)
• knowing about the correct anchoring procedures and their limitations is one of the best way to
avoid anchoring related fatalities and damages