4/5/2022

Safe Anchoring

Incident in one of our Management vessel

Overview
• One of our management vessel dragged her
anchor and parted at Hachinohe anchorage.

• Oil spill was observed from the vessel.

• All crew have been evacuated by helicopter

without death or injury.

• Cause of the incident is still under

investigation.

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Re: GROUNDING of a Woodchip Carrier Resulting an OIL SPILL

OUTLINE OF THE INCIDENT:

Our managed woodchip carrier in laden condition was

instructed to anchor off Hachinohe, Japan while waiting for her
berthing and pilot schedule. Vessel anchored even the
anticipation of heavy weather and the unfavourable sea
condition.

Re: GROUNDING of a Woodchip Carrier Resulting an OIL SPILL

On the morning of 11 August 2021, the vessel grounded after

dragging her anchor. The vessel successfully refloated by
herself but sustained an enormous transverse crack between
no. 5 and no. 6 cargo hold. Owing to the fact that the vessel
was badly damaged as the crack continuously gets wider and
the fear that the vessel will sink, all crew members were safely
rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard.

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Re: GROUNDING of a Woodchip Carrier Resulting an OIL SPILL

On the next day, the vessel broke into two parts which
resulted in an oil spill. At the time of publishing this letter, oil
spillage still continues and pollution control operation is being
carried out.

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A MUST REVIEW ACTION:

1. Knowledge of the Bridge team and forward station that

anchor is already brought up. How to know that the anchor is
holding on the ground?

2. Knowledge and understanding of Master regarding critical

wind velocity. On what wind speed Master should be called by
the officer in relation to the critical wind velocity computation
result? Does correct information entered in the computation
for critical wind velocity? e.g. holding power coefficient of
anchor chain, anchor Chain weight Coefficient in water, height
of bell mouth from sea bottom, frontal area of windage, etc.…

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A MUST REVIEW ACTION:

3. Knowledge of all officers of the watch on how to know the

anchor is dragging. What are the ways to know that the anchor
is dragging at an early stage? What should the OOW
immediate actions in case he found out the vessel is dragging
her anchor?

4. Monitoring of anchor positions. Are anchor watch procedure

being done properly and SMS procedures are being followed?
Are record of periodical observation during anchorage is done
correctly? Does the Master and OOW understand what is
written in the anchor watch procedure form?

MEASURES AND CONSIDERATION TO TAKE:

1. It is always wise and safe to consider for the vessel to drift

instead of anchorage while waiting for berthing when bad
weather and sea condition is expected. Discuss with your
Operator and management company on an early stage.

2. Ensure BNWAS shall not be operated in "AUTO" mode and

always operational even when the vessel is at anchor. Master
should keep the key of BNWAS in his possession to ensure
Inhibit duration is not altered without his knowledge and
authorization.

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Questionnaire for anchoring operation

Q1. What kind of anchorage is considered a good anchorage?

Ans)

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Q1. What kind of anchorage is considered a good anchorage?

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)
① The location is not affected by wind and swell.
② Large water area and not in a channel. If there are other anchoring
vessels, enough distance between them can be taken.
③ Appropriate water depth and no shallow waters in the vicinity.
④ Good holding ground (Silt > Mud > Mud with sand > Sand)
⑤ No obstructions on the bottom such as submarine cable or
pipelines.

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Q2. What should you consider before anchoring?

( Answer as much as possible )

Ans)

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Q2. What should you consider before anchoring?

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )
① Anchorage information (Width of water, depth, bottom nature,
presence of shallow water areas or obstructions on the bottom,
distance from nearest land)
② Wind, wave, swell and current conditions (including calculation of
critical wind velocity)
③ Course to the anchorage
④ Location of alternative anchorage
⑤ Choosing the proper side of anchor
⑥ Anchoring method
⑦ Cable pay-out length
⑧ Amount of walk-out

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Q3. What kind of machinery preparation should be done before

dropping / heaving up anchor at Fwd station?
( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q3. What kind of machinery preparation should be done before

Dropping / heaving up anchor at Fwd station?
Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )
① Pre-heating of hydraulic oil (if cold weather)
② Pre-running of windlass
③ Start anchor wash (for heaving up anchor)
④ Prepare anchor wash hose (for heaving up anchor)
⑤ Prepare and test talk-back system
⑥ Prepare round shape symbol

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Q4. Procedure and caution when you let go anchor in stern-way.

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q4. Procedure and caution when you let go anchor in stern-way.

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )
① Anchors (Port / Stbd) should be used alternately as far as possible.
② The anchor should be lowered to sea surface level (Cock bill) or 4-
6m above seabed.
③ Approaching speed should be as per the table shown on the next
slide.

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④ Vessel’s speed when dropping anchor should be less than 0.5kt.

⑤ When the anchor is let go, it should be stopped by applying the
brake
after stopping of paying out when the chain is at short stay (every 1 or
2 shackles, depends on size of vessel and anchor) are paid out and as
far as practicable cable speed shall be less than one shackle per 5
seconds [330mtr/min] (This is an empirical figure which has been
provided as a guidance for safe anchoring).
⑥ Brought up should be confirmed before dismissing of Fwd station.

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Q5. How do you confirm brought up anchor?

Ans)

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Q5. How do you confirm brought up anchor?

Ans)
① Anchor gets tight and slack after that.
② In case of bad weather, above movement may not be observed. In
this case, we can consider brought up anchor if ship’s heading towards
to wind direction.

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Q6. Procedure and caution when you do deep water anchoring.

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q6. Procedure and caution when you do deep water anchoring.

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )

① If water depth is more than 50m, to avoid damaging the windlass,

the anchor chain should be kept up/down and paid out continuously
under power till the entire scope is paid out.
② When paying out the anchor chain, the speed over the ground
should not be more than 0.3kt, if not possible, speed must not be more
than 0.5kt (same as minimum hoisting capacity of windlass: 9m/min).

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Q7. Length of the anchor chains to be paid out

Ans)

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Q7. Length of the anchor chains to be paid out

Ans)
① Normal weather: L = 3d + 90m
② Bad weather: L = 4d + 145m

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Q8. Below illustration is when dropping Anchor Plot the center of

turning circle in the Illustration.
Ans)

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Q8. Below illustration is when dropping Anchor Plot the center of

turning circle in the Illustration.

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Q8. Below illustration is when dropping Anchor Plot the center of

turning circle in the Illustration.
Ans)

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Q9. How do you decide radius of turning circle?

Ans)

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Q9. How do you decide radius of turning circle?

Ans)
(c + LOA)m (or simply “Length of anchor chain + LOA” is ok)
* a = length of anchor chain / b=water depth + height of bell mouth
a2 = b2+c2 / c=√a2-b2

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Q10. How many meter is 1 shackle?

Ans)

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Q10. How many meter is 1 shackle?

Ans)
27.5m

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Q11. If 10 shackles on bell mouth, how many miles do you set turning
circle? (LOA=200m, height between bottom to bell mouth: 20m)
Ans)

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Q11. If 10 shackles on bell mouth, how many miles do you set turning
circle? (LOA=200m, height between bottom to bell mouth: 20m)
Ans)
√2752 - 202 = 274m
274 + 200 = 474m ≒ 0.26nm

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Q12. Which seabed are good/no good for safe anchoring?

Ans)

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Q12. Which seabed are good/no good for safe anchoring?

Ans)
Silt > Mud > Mud with sand > Sand / Try to avoid Rock or Coral

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Q13. What should you check while anchor watch?

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q13. What should you check while anchor watch?

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )
① Check vessel’s position continuously to confirm whether go out
from turning circle (dragging) or not.
② Plot position of other vessels in vicinity and confirm whether they
are dragging or getting close.
③ Proper light and shapes should be raised.
④ Observe weather and sea condition whether reaching critical wind
velocity and master’s standing order figure.

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Q14. When the vessel stays at anchorage, usually the vessel is

swaying/yawing. Draw the track of the movement in below
illustration.

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Ans)

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Q15. How do you detect signs of dragging anchor?

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q15. How do you detect signs of dragging anchor?

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )
① Check of Ship's Position
To Determine the ship's position by means of radar or by landmark
and judge whether or not the anchor is dragging by checking to see if
the ship's position is inside the "Bridge Turning Circle"
② Record of Course Recorder
The anchor might be dragging when the recorder stops drawing a
steady sine curve.
③ Swinging of Ship
The anchor might be dragging when the ship stops making steady
swings and remains in one posture against the wind. The number of
times when the vessel swings to complete 360° turns should be
recorded.

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④ Tautness of Anchor Chain

The anchor might be dragging when the anchor chain does not
slacken and remains taut.
⑤ Speed over Ground
To Check the speed over the ground by Doppler log.
⑥ Changes in Relative Positions of Other Ships
To Pay careful attention to any changes in the relative positions of
other ships.

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Q16. What are techniques to prevent dragging of anchor?

( Answer as much as possible )
Ans)

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Q16. What are techniques to prevent dragging of anchor?

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible )

① Make deep draft condition

② Make even keel, or by the head condition if possible.
③ Pay out extra length of chain.
④ Drop another anchor as snubber anchor.
⑤ Keep the vessel’s head to the wind and ease cable tension using the
main engine and rudder.

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Q17. What will you do once you observed dragging Anchor?

Ans)

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Q17. What will you do once you observed dragging Anchor?

Ans)

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Q18. What should you record in logbook and bell book for anchoring
operation?
( Answer as much as possible. )
Ans)

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Q18. What should you record in logbook and bell book for anchoring
operation?
( Answer as much as possible. )
Ans)

① Let go anchor
- Test eng
- S/B eng
- S/B Fwd station
- Cook bill anchor
- Walk out anchor until xxx
- Let go anchor
- Brought up anchor (port/stbd anchor, xx ss on deck/in the water, depth of
water, GPS position of center of turning circle)
- Dismiss the forward station

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Q18. What should you record in logbook and bell book for anchoring
operation?
( Answer as much as possible. )
Ans)

② Heave up anchor
- Test eng
- S/B eng
- S/B Fwd station
- Start heaving up anchor (port/stbd anchor, xx ss on deck/in the
water, depth of water)
- Anchor aweigh
- Clear and up anchor (Anchor sea surface and all clear)
- Anchor home (Anchor in the hose pipe)
- Secured anchor
- Dismiss the forward station
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Q19. What should you take care when heaving up anchor?

( Answer as much as possible. )
Ans)

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Q19. What should you take care when heaving up anchor?

Ans) ( Answer as much as possible. )

① Maintain up and down – short stay condition when heaving up

anchor.
② If the vessel is pitching or heaving due to bad weather, do not
continue to heave up anchor when the bow goes up and tension of
anchor chain goes high to avoid overload of windlass.
③ Frequently report chain direction and tension and avoid crossing
bow of anchor chain to other side.

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Q20. As C/O, what information should you check before dropping

anchor?
( Answer as much as possible. )
Ans)

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Q20. As C/O, what information should you check before dropping

anchor?
Ans) ( Answer as much as possible. )

① Prospected anchor position

② Depth of water (Charted depth) and height of tide
③ Nature of seabed
④ Distance between other anchoring vessels
⑤ Traffic situation
⑥ Anchor to be used and length to be paid out
⑦ Let go anchor or walk back

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THANK YOU

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