Foredeck anchor

[samshltn]

On the Norwegian Peal last week, we visited the foredeck. On the deck there were the following things:

 

• A rail around the edge of the deck.
  
• The crew pool.
  
• An escape hatch from the deck below.
  
• The foremast.
  
• A door to enter and leave the deck.
  
• A huge anchor, bolted to the deck.
  

 

So here's my question: What's that anchor for? There's no windlass there, no hoist to lift it, no method to deploy it whatsoever. Why is it there?

[Clarea]

Could it be a spare anchor, in case they need to replace one?

[samshltn]

Could it be a spare anchor, in case they lose one?

 

Yes, it could be - but there's no equipment on the deck to actually deploy it. There's no visible means to move it from it's stowed position.

[John Bull]

Yes, it could be - but there's no equipment on the deck to actually deploy it. There's no visible means to move it from it's stowed position.

 

I agree with Bob, a spare.

 

The equipment to fit it, and enough spare chain (which can be lost with the anchor) wouldn't be worth the cost and space - they'd have it fitted at the next port.

No different to those trucks which carry a spare wheel = but often not the jack & wrench to fit it.

 

JB :)

[samshltn]

they'd have it fitted at the next port.

 

Ah good point, the port will have the necessary equipment to hoist it to where it needs to be. Which like all good answers raises another question: Where is the anchor normally stowed?

[Capt_BJ]

yep, a spare. Due to the long lead time to get one of these it is common to carry one. true they need assist to actually fit it, but if needed they have it. On merchant vessels it is not uncommon to see then carry an extra prop. If you ever see a picture of the bow area of QM2 they not only have a spare anchor but a number of blades for the screws. On QM2 the blades can be replaced individually. They refer to the blades as the Captain's cuff links ....

 

[BruceMuzz]

Currently there is only one country producing anchors for commercial ships. That country is China.Ordering a new one and getting it shipped to a convenient location is rather difficult, very expensive, and takes a very long time.

It actually pays to have a spare anchor on the ship.

[samshltn]

They refer to the blades as the Captain's cuff links ....

 

The commodores cufflinks, no less.

[navybankerteacher]

On the Norwegian Peal last week, we visited the foredeck. On the deck there were the following things:

 

• A rail around the edge of the deck.
  
• The crew pool.
  
• An escape hatch from the deck below.
  
• The foremast.
  
• A door to enter and leave the deck.
  
• A huge anchor, bolted to the deck.
  

So here's my question: What's that anchor for? There's no windlass there, no hoist to lift it, no method to deploy it whatsoever. Why is it there?

 

It is carried as a spare - similar to the spare azipod blades carried by ships. Sure, they cannot be replaced while at sees, but if necessary they will be on hand at a repair facility, which, while capable of doing the work, would not have those "spare parts" on hand.

[SantaFeFan]

I recently did the high level tour on Princess and one of the areas we visited was where the anchor mechanism and lines are kept and deployed. The chief engineer was explaining how it all worked. Someone asked about the anchor up on deck. The chief explained that it was a spare. Occasionally they lose an anchor. To expedite replacement they carry a spare on board, rather than wait for weeks if not months for a replacement to arrive. The spare anchor can only be replaced in a dry dock environment. A crane is used to lift it off the deck and onto the drydock floor. Then the chain is lowered and connected. It is then lifted into it's stored position.

 

The chief said losing an anchor is not common, but they did lose both anchors in one week a few years ago due to heavy wave surges and just bad luck.

 

An interesting side note - the anchor is not used to hold the ship. The weight of the chain on the bottom is what holds the ship in place. The anchor is just a weight to pull the chain down. They drop a specific length of chain to lay on the bottom, the length depending on the actual depth.

 

They carry 1,200 feet of chain for each anchor, but they only drop anchor in water less than 400 feet deep. More than that and the combined weight of the anchor and the chain on the bottom would be too heavy and they would not be able to pull it back up.

[AdGuyMG]

Where is the anchor normally stowed?

 

Next to the Crown.

[chengkp75]

I recently did the high level tour on Princess and one of the areas we visited was where the anchor mechanism and lines are kept and deployed. The chief engineer was explaining how it all worked. Someone asked about the anchor up on deck. The chief explained that it was a spare. Occasionally they lose an anchor. To expedite replacement they carry a spare on board, rather than wait for weeks if not months for a replacement to arrive. The spare anchor can only be replaced in a dry dock environment. A crane is used to lift it off the deck and onto the drydock floor. Then the chain is lowered and connected. It is then lifted into it's stored position.

 

The chief said losing an anchor is not common, but they did lose both anchors in one week a few years ago due to heavy wave surges and just bad luck.

 

An interesting side note - the anchor is not used to hold the ship. The weight of the chain on the bottom is what holds the ship in place. The anchor is just a weight to pull the chain down. They drop a specific length of chain to lay on the bottom, the length depending on the actual depth.

 

They carry 1,200 feet of chain for each anchor, but they only drop anchor in water less than 400 feet deep. More than that and the combined weight of the anchor and the chain on the bottom would be too heavy and they would not be able to pull it back up.

 

Well, actually, the anchor can be fitted outside of a drydock. It is easier in a drydock, but perfectly possible alongside a pier.

 

And its not exactly right that the chain holds the ship in place. The scope (length) of chain let out is for two reasons: one, to keep the pull on the anchor flat along the seabed to keep the anchor digging in, because if the pull is upwards, the anchor comes loose. The weight of that length of chain also provides a "catenary" or curve to the chain, so that when waves or wind gusts tug on the ship, the curve of the chain takes most of the strain, not pulling on the anchor.

 

When anchoring, the anchor will pull the chain to the bottom, but then the ship will be pointed into the wind, which will drive it backwards. This digs the anchor flukes into the seabed, and subsequently pulls the rest of the chain out. Captain's will watch for the strain on the chain to increase, showing that the anchor is biting, and it will then lessen as the chain forms the catenary curve. At this point, if the ship's position has not moved, the anchor is holding, and the windlass secured.

[chengkp75]

Ah good point, the port will have the necessary equipment to hoist it to where it needs to be. Which like all good answers raises another question: Where is the anchor normally stowed?

 

The spare anchor is always stowed right there, on the bow, it's too heavy to move around just for fun. If you mean the in service anchors, they are in the hawse pipes recessed into the bow, attached to the chains, ready for use.

[SantaFeFan]

Well, actually, the anchor can be fitted outside of a drydock. It is easier in a drydock, but perfectly possible alongside a pier.

 

And its not exactly right that the chain holds the ship in place. The scope (length) of chain let out is for two reasons: one, to keep the pull on the anchor flat along the seabed to keep the anchor digging in, because if the pull is upwards, the anchor comes loose. The weight of that length of chain also provides a "catenary" or curve to the chain, so that when waves or wind gusts tug on the ship, the curve of the chain takes most of the strain, not pulling on the anchor.

 

When anchoring, the anchor will pull the chain to the bottom, but then the ship will be pointed into the wind, which will drive it backwards. This digs the anchor flukes into the seabed, and subsequently pulls the rest of the chain out. Captain's will watch for the strain on the chain to increase, showing that the anchor is biting, and it will then lessen as the chain forms the catenary curve. At this point, if the ship's position has not moved, the anchor is holding, and the windlass secured.

 

The chief must have been giving us the dumbed-down "clueless civilian" explanation. ;p

 

Thanks for the additional information.

[SadieN]

The chief must have been giving us the dumbed-down "clueless civilian" explanation. ;p

 

Thanks for the additional information.

 

 

 

Which is exactly what I need.

Thank you!

[sparks1093]

The spare anchor is always stowed right there, on the bow, it's too heavy to move around just for fun. If you mean the in service anchors, they are in the hawse pipes recessed into the bow, attached to the chains, ready for use.

 

Thanks for the refresher, I was trying to remember what they called them.