Anchoring Equipment

Anchoring equipment
The anchoring equipment fitted to the majority of vessels consists of two

matched units, offering a degree of redundancy.
These units consists of an anchor, chain (or for smaller vessels wire), a
gypsum or chain lifter wheel, brake, lift motor and various chain stopper arrangements.
When not in he use the chain is stowed in a chain locker, systems fitted with
wire are stowed on a drum in the same way as winches.
Chain locker
A false bottom is fitted to the chain locker consisting of a perforated plate.

This allows water and mud to be removed from the space. The end of the chain is
attached to the hull by a quick release mechanism known as the 'bitter end'.
The strength of the 'Bitter End' fixing arrangement for a moderately large
vessel is in the region of 6 tons, this will not be sufficient to prevent a run away
unbraked chain. The arrangement must be easily accessible.
The proof load for the windlass (the load the windlass must withstand
without being pulled from the deck) is given by;
6.18 dc2 (44 + 0.08dc) [kN]
Where dc is the diameter of the chain metal
This will prove that it is strong enough. It must also be as strong as the
braking load on the cable.
The windlass must be capable of pulling the anchor from a depth of 25% of
the total cable carried, i.e. 50% of the length of chain on one side
It should be capable of lifting the anchor from 82.5m to 27.5m at 9m/min.
Motive force
May be steam, electrical, hydraulic or even engine driven although the latter is rare. A
gear box arrangement, heavy tooth pitch on final drive, are fitted
Brake
Generally consists of ferodo lined half cylinder steel bands which are joined by a pivot
point at the rear. The bands are closed and opened by the action of a threaded brake
wheel spindle acting on the fixings at the front of the band ends
Hawser
The chain is led overboard by a strengthened and reinforced pipe called a Hawser
One of the reasons for bow flare is to allow the anchor and chain to lie well
clear of the hull when in use, preventing damage.
Chain stopper
For anchoring operations the stopper bar is

locked upright. When it is required to fix the position of the chain the stopper is lowered
into the position shown. This allows the brake to be released and is typically used for
stowing the anchor. chain stopper arrangements are not design to stop a runaway chain.
Alternately an arrangement known as the 'devil's claw' may be used which has a forked
locking piece. For smaller vessels, and where extra security is required bottle jacks with
wire strops passed though the chain may be used.
Chain
End pull will cause the link to collapse in. This repeated many times will lead
to fatigue failure. Hence, stud linked chain is insisted upon
Here a stud is welded on one side in the link to brace it against deformation. An
alternative
to
this
albeit
in
limited
use
is
shown
below.
Chain sizing
Each vessel is given an equipment number which is calculated with use of a formula and
tkaens into account the vessels size, underwater area and sail area. From this a 'look-up'
table may be used to give an appropriate size of cable. The diameter of the chain may be
read from this table and differs depending on the grade of steel. This grade of steel
varies from U1 ( mild steel), U2 (Special Steel) to U3 (extra special steel).
The size of cable that is to be used is found by the use of a formula which is
Equipment number = D2/3 + 2Bh +A
where
D=Displacement
B=beam
h=Freeboard+height.of.deckhouses.over.B/4wide
A = Transverse area including deckhouses over B/4 wide
Connecting chain and components
To join two sections of chain a 'kenter' (don't quote me on the name) shackle
is used. This consists of two half sections and removable bridge all held together by a
tapered pin. This arrangement works remarkably well and can be found on all sizes of
chain.
Ranging Anchor Chain

During docking the anchor chain is lowered from the chain locker to the dock bottom and
laid
out
for
inspection.
This allows the inspecion of the chain for broken or lost chain studs. A random set of
links are measured from each shackle length ( Shackle refers to a standard lengthnominally 27.5m, of chain joined to other shackle lengths by a splitable link). There is an
allowable wear limit allowed nominally 12%. The link showed below has wear in excess
of
this
and
the
shackle
length
required
replacement.
Anchor designs
All of the anchors shown below are of the 'flipper' type. Regulations allows these to be
smaller
than
standard
types
Below is an anchor of typical design seen in many small to medium sized tankers
vessels
Below is a high grip anchor typical of that used for four mointing mooring of
required
to
fix
their
positions
accurately
This anchor weighs about 20 tonnes without attachments. The chain link in comparison
the anchor size probably indicates this came from a jack up barge. For vessels the
holding comes not only from the anchor but the weight and lay of the anchor chain
Again the chain link in comparison the anchor size probably indicates this came from a
jack up barge

Anchoring Equipment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Anchoring Equipment

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Anchoring Equipment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Anchoring equipment

The anchoring equipment fitted to the majority of vessels consists of two

A false bottom is fitted to the chain locker consisting of a perforated plate.

For anchoring operations the stopper bar is

Connecting chain and components

Ranging Anchor Chain

You might also like