ANCHOR OPS AND DEPLOYMENT

Question 1

What is an anchor ball?

Answer 1

A black ball shape not less than 0.6 meters shown in the forepart of the vessel.

Question 2

What are anchor bearings?

Answer 2

A set of crossed compass bearings as observed from the ship laying at anchor to identify the ship’s positions.

Question 3

What does the term “anchor coming home” mean?

Answer 3

The anchor is being drawn towards the ship instead of the ship moving towards the anchor–possibly due to heavy weather or current working against the ship.

Question 4

What does the term “A-Peak mean”?

Answer 4

When the ship’s bow is above the anchor position-the cable would be “up and down”.

Question 5

What does the term “A-trip” mean?

Answer 5

The moment the anchor breaks free from the bottom when weighing anchor.

Question 6

What is a bull ring?

Answer 6

Same as bull nose-center lead forward on ship for running mooring lines or to pass a tow line.

Question 7

What is a cable clench?

Answer 7

Holding arrangement for the bitter end of the anchor chain located in the anchor chain locker or just outside.

Question 8

What is a capstan?

Answer 8

A VERTICAL mooring drum.

Question 9

What is the crown of the anchor?

Answer 9

The area of the anchor at the base of the shank between the tripping palms.

Question 10

What is dredging the anchor?

Answer 10

Moving the ship with the anchor on a short lead that helps control the movement of the ship at slow speeds.

Question 11

What is a fowled anchor?

Answer 11

When the anchor is found to be obstructed or tangled with debris when weighing anchor.

Question 12

What is a fowled hawse?

Answer 12

When two anchors are deployed and the chains become tangle as the ship swing. Cross-180 deg swing; Elbow-360 deg. swing; Cross and Elbow- 540 deg. swing; Round turn-720 deg. swing.

Question 13

What does the term Kedging mean?

Answer 13

Moving ship by use of small anchors and hawsers.

Question 14

What is a Baltic Moor?

Answer 14

A combination mooring of a vessel that holds the vessel just off the berth by rigging a stern mooring line into an offshore anchor that is dropped off the berth and taking in on the mooring.

Question 15

What is a “Ganger length”

Answer 15

A short length of cable found between the anchor crown shackle and the first joining shackle of the anchor cable.

Question 16

What is a Mediterranean Moor?

Answer 16

A stern too mooring using 2 anchors spread between 50-60 degrees with stern lines going to the dock .

Question 17

What is an open moor?

Answer 17

Using both anchors with approximately 50 deg. spread-good for freshwater rivers with no tide swing.

Question 18

What is “scope” in reference to anchor ops?

Answer 18

The ratio to chain let out to the depth of the water.

Question 19

What does the term “sheer” mean in reference to anchor ops?

Answer 19

Angular movement of the vessel about the hawse pipe by using the rudder.

Question 20

What is a short stay?

Answer 20

A small amount of anchor chain let out-not quite “up and down”.

Question 21

What is the term “warping” describing?

Answer 21

Moving the vessel by means of hawsers and powered winches.

Question 22

What does the “Y” flag represent in anchor ops?

Answer 22

I am dragging my anchor.

Question 23

What is the holding power of a stockless anchor?

Answer 23

Four times the anchor weight.

Question 24

What is the holding power of a AC 14 or Bruce anchor?

Answer 24

About ten times their weight.

Question 25

What should be some of the considerations be in developing the Anchor Plan between the master/pilot and officer in charge of the anchor party?

Answer 25

The intended position of anchoring the vessel, the available swinging room, the depth of water at high and low tides, the holding ground of the bottom is good and free of obstructions, the greatest rate of current expected, UKC for lowest predicted tide, which anchor to use, the amount of anchor chain intended to pay out, the ship’s course and speed intended to approach the anchor position.

Question 26

What is the fundamental principle of successfully holding the position of an anchored ship?

Answer 26

It is the weight of the weight of the anchor chain and lay of the scope along with the weight and design of the anchor that successfully holds a ship.

Question 27

What are some of the determining factors concerning how much chain to use to use?

Answer 27

The available swinging room, the depth of the water, the range of tides, the strength of current and weather forecasts, the intended time period expected at anchor.

Question 28

What are some operational safety guidelines when anchoring?

Answer 28

The anchor should be “walked back” clear of the hawse pipe before letting go, experienced personnel should operate the windlass with proper safety gear including goggles, all involved personnel should have inter-related communications tested prior to anchoring, the lead of the anchor chain and how many shots out should be continually communicated to the conning officer in the Wheelhouse, all designated day shapes and sound signals should be deployed promptly.

Question 29

What is the purpose of the Mediterranean moor and how must it be approached with a right-hand turning propeller?

Answer 29

The Mediterranean moor utilizes both anchors on a short stay with the stern backed to a berth with mooring lines passed to bollards on the berth to secure the stern and allow for cargo ops or passenger access over the stern. The berth must be approached port side too with a right-hand propeller dropping the starboard anchor ahead to starboard at the same time swinging the stern towards the berth. The port anchor is dropped after coming astern on the engine which will help continue to swing the stern port towards the berth. Both anchors are paid out until the stern is close enough to pass a heaving line so mooring lines can be passed to secure the stern.

Question 30

What is the purpose of the running moor?

Answer 30

This method of anchoring using both anchors is used on tidal rivers, canals and harbors with limited swing room.

Question 31

What is the difference between how the running moor and standing moor are accomplished?

Answer 31

In the running moor one anchor is dropped while the ship is still moving ahead into the current while the anchor chain is paid out and the headway is stopped after 9 shots has been let out. Once the headway is stopped the second anchor is let out while the ship is allowed to fall back with the current and the second anchor is paid out while the anchor chain for the first anchor is hauled in until there is about the same amount of chain out from both anchors.
The standing moor accomplishes the same anchoring arrangement as the running moor but is accomplished by using the current to allow the ship fall back on the first anchor while the chain is paid out nine shots. The second anchor is the dropped and the anchor chain is hauled in on the first anchor while the second anchor is paid out until there is about the same amount of chain out on each anchor.

Question 32

What is the open moor and where is this arrangement practical?

Answer 32

The open moor is used on non-tidal conditions when extra holding power is required by a second anchor such as in a strong running fresh water river. To achieve an open moor the engine, rudder, and current are used to move the ship sideways from the position where the first anchor is dropped so the second anchor can be dropped that will give the anchor an approximately 50 deg. angle between anchors as the ship is allowed to drop back on both anchors.

Question 33

What are the techniques for dredging the anchor to come alongside a berth?

Answer 33

One technique is to drop an anchor short of the berth on a short stay (approx. 1 1/2 shots) and coming ahead on the engine using the anchor as a springing effect to bring the vessel alongside the rudder to keep parallel to the berth. A second technique with an ahead current would be to drop the anchor above the berth on a short stay and allow the vessel to fall back dragging the anchor and keeping the vessel parallel to the berth with the rudder.

Question 34

What are some additional considerations for anchoring a VLCC?

Answer 34

Speed over the ground should be carefully controlled when walking back the anchor-0.25 kts or less recommended. Anchor on VLCC may weigh as much as 20 T or more and put greater stress on windlasses and band brakes. If there is enough sea room drifting may be preferred to anchoring. Turning the ship into the tide before anchoring will help take the way off and allow the use of the current when walking back the anchor.

Question 35

What are some considerations for deep water anchoring?

Answer 35

The windlass should only be able to pick up 3 1/2 shots and the anchor when leading straight of the bottom. The anchor should be walked out all the way to the bottom in deep water.