Additional Anchoring Procedure

Additional Anchoring Considerations Doc No: RF1092TT
Version: 4
Reference Material
General
 Ensure that the anchor and associated equipment are inspected, operated and maintained
efficiently (including the lubricating program for the windlass, correct brake adjustments
and ensuring the brake band thickness is within the makers recommended thickness).
 The primary method of securing the anchor for sea passage is by the brake and lashing
arrangement. The secondary method is to use the anchor stopper bar and pin.
 Use of port and starboard anchors alternately to reduce the risk for excessive wear on one
windlass.
 Train Officers and Crew who are a part of the Forward Anchoring Team, enable them to
understand every aspect of the operation (example : hydraulic brakes for windlass).
 Be aware of the variance in capacities of the windlass, including hydraulic motors and
anchor brakes, and use them judiciously.
 Many accidents have occurred while anchoring in difficult conditions or deep waters when
underestimating the strength of tide/wind and misjudging the speed over the ground. If
there is a strong onshore wind and the anchorage is close to shore, consider not
anchoring. If possible, maintain more than one nautical mile distance from the shallows and
other potential hazards.
 For deep water anchoring, conduct a Job Hazard Analysis. See Risk Tool Handbook
(SP2122T)
 After experiencing heavy weather, inspect the anchor lashing arrangement and re-tighten if
required.
Walking Back with Anchor on Seabed
If the Master decides to walk back the anchor on the seabed:
 Stop the vessel over the ground when the anchor reaches the seabed.
 Maintain very minimal way (not exceeding 0.25 knots) over the ground in fore or aft
direction. Excessive speed can damage the hydraulic motor.
 Closely monitor any strain on the cable.
 Keep only one hydraulic pump in operation to prevent over-speeding of the hydraulic motor
Anchoring Equipment (General Information)

Consult manufacturers’ manuals for details on a vessel’s specific equipment.
Equipment Designed for Temporary Mooring Only
Anchoring equipment is designed to consider the dynamic forces imposed by the vessel
moving in heavy seas. However, the requirements of the International Association of
Classification Societies (IACS) state: “The anchoring equipment … is intended for temporary
mooring of a vessel within a harbour or sheltered area when the vessel is awaiting berth,
tide, etc. The equipment is therefore not designed to hold a ship off fully exposed coasts in
rough weather or to stop a ship which is moving or drifting.”
In such conditions, or in response to frequent anchoring operations in open sea, the loads on
the anchoring equipment will increase to the point where its components may be damaged
or lost due to the high energy forces generated.
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Version: 4
Windlass
Lifting Capability: The designed lifting capability of the windlass will dictate the appropriate
depth of anchor. Most windlasses are designed to lift only three shackles of cable along with
the weight of anchor when the cable is up and down with no weight on it. Pay attention to the
nature of the bottom and depth contours while anchoring. Even with good holding ground, if
the cable is not lying on the ground properly due to the depth contour, the anchor could drag.
Motor: The windlass motor is designed to correspond to the design lifting capability of the
windlass. The motor is vulnerable to high load and snap loads, especially if hydraulic
powered.
Note: A cable stopper (pawl or guillotine) has twice the holding power of the brake, and the
brake (in good condition) is about 12 times stronger than the motor.
Anchor chain:
Studs
The studs may become loose or fall out due to stress on the anchor cable. Loss of stud or its
position will reduce the strength of the chain by 30%.
Chain Stoppers
Chain stoppers are to be engaged while at anchorage and during voyages. The chain
stopper is designed for 80% of breaking strength of chain.
Anchor Holding Power

The holding power of an anchor depends largely on the nature of the seabed or holding
ground. Certain types of mud and clay provide the best holding ground, while rock provides
the worst.
Seabed conditions must be balanced with other factors, such as the water depth and the
prevailing weather conditions. In strong winds, an anchored ship will yaw. At higher wind
speeds, it is increasingly likely to surge rapidly from one extremity of the yaw to the other.
This can place a shock load on the anchor cable, breaking the anchor’s hold in the seabed,
and increasing the risk of anchor dragging. An anchor will drag when the tension in the
anchor cable exceeds the total holding power of the anchor and the cable.
An anchor provides maximum holding power when its flukes are fully embedded in the
seabed. This occurs when the anchor shank lies on the seabed, and the anchor cable pulls
horizontally at the anchor shackle. When the pull increases, the cable lying on the seabed is
lifted off, creating an angle above the horizontal.
As the angle increases, the holding power reduces. See Figure 1.
A rule of thumb is that a pull at 5 degrees above the horizontal reduces the holding power by
25% and a pull at 15 degrees reduces the power by 50%.
Anchoring equipment is intended to work effectively in normal or good conditions. Anchor
holding power calculations or estimates should not be used to determine the maximum wind
speed or weather conditions, where a ship can safely stay at anchor.

Version: 4
Figure 1: A ship at anchor
Scope of the Cable

To maximize an anchor’s holding power, the scope (length) of the cable should ensure that,
in fair weather, a length of cable will lie along the seabed and pull horizontally at the anchor
shackle. When this occurs, the cable rises gently in a curve to the hawse-pipe. The curve, or
catenary, ensures that the cable exerts a horizontal pull on the anchor shackle. This absorbs
shocks when the forces of wind, tide and current increase the cable pull. The cable scope is
key in establishing a catenary.
The common formula for calculating the minimum number of shackles required for calm
weather is:
Number of shackles of cable = 1.5 x √depth of water in meters.
For vessels, the cable scope is normally 6 times the depth of water while loaded and 7–8
times the depth of water while in ballast.
Emergency departure from Anchorage:
Apart from any specific guidance provided by port, a vessel should consider departing the
Anchorage if the below weather criteria is exceeded.
Maximum permissible expected or present weather criteria for departing anchorage
Open anchorage Sheltered anchorage
Wind (Knots) Wave (meters) Wind (Knots) Wave (meters)
35 Nil 35 Nil
Laden
28 1 28 1
22 2 25 1.5
Ballast
28 Nil 28 1.0
22 2 25 1.5
Maximum allowed current to remain at anchorage is 3 knots. If the vessel requires to anchor in currents
more than 3 knots a deviation approval from the team is required.
The above criteria are applicable in the following conditions

1. Scope of cable is between 6-10
2. Vessel is in good holding ground.

Version: 4
UKC requirement for anchorages:

1. In open anchorages, a minimum dynamic UKC of 20% of the deepest static draft.
2. In sheltered anchorage, minimum dynamic UKC of 10% of the deepest static draft.
Heaving anchors up in strong wind and high seas is extremely challenging. Anchoring team
should ensure that there is minimum tension in the chain while heaving the anchor in heavy
weather and as far as possible keep the chain as vertical.
In ports where departure from the anchorage requires a pilot, contact shore management
with the following information:
1. The duration and expected heavy weather- wind speed, current, wave height & water
depth.
2. Notice required to book pilot and any instruction issued by the port authority.
3. Vessel holding ground, nearest shallow water and navigational hazards.
Strength of Lashing Arrangement
Ensure anchor lashing arrangement has adequate strength at least twice the anchor weight,
plus 10 m anchor chain length. For example, for a 17,800 kg normal stockless anchor with
10 m of grade 3 chain of 102 mm diameter weighing 2,326 kg, the required minimum
breaking load (MBL) of the lashing wire would be:
(2 X 17,800 kg) + 2,326 kg = 37,926 kg or 37.9 t
This would equate to a steel wire rope of 24 mm diameter and equivalent turnbuckles.

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Additional Anchoring Considerations Doc No: RF1092TT

Anchoring Equipment (General Information)

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Anchor Holding Power

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Figure 1: A ship at anchor

Scope of the Cable

Open anchorage Sheltered anchorage

Wind (Knots) Wave (meters) Wind (Knots) Wave (meters)

The above criteria are applicable in the following conditions

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UKC requirement for anchorages:

(2 X 17,800 kg) + 2,326 kg = 37,926 kg or 37.9 t

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