What Happens If You Drop The Anchor At Full Speed?

Dropping anchor at full speed is a very dangerous and reckless thing to do. It can cause serious damage to your ship, your anchor, and even your crew.

In this article, we will explain what happens if you drop anchor at full speed, and why you should never do it.

An anchor is a heavy metal device that is attached to a long chain and used to keep a ship in place by digging into the seabed. The chain runs through a hole in the ship's bow called the hawsepipe, and is controlled by a machine called the windlass. The windlass can lower or raise the anchor by letting out or pulling in the chain.

When you want to anchor your ship, you need to follow some basic steps:

1. First, you need to find a suitable anchorage area, where the water is not too deep, the seabed is not too rocky or muddy, and there are no obstructions or hazards nearby.
2. Second, you need to slow down your ship and approach the anchorage area carefully, keeping an eye on your depth sounder, radar, and GPS.
3. Third, you need to stop your ship over the spot where you want to drop your anchor, and put your engines in neutral or reverse.
4. Fourth, you need to communicate with your forward anchor party, who are responsible for operating the windlass and releasing the bow stoppers. The bow stoppers are devices that secure the chain and prevent it from running out accidentally.
5. Fifth, you need to lower your anchor slowly and gently, letting out enough chain to create a proper scope. The scope is the ratio of the length of the chain to the depth of the water. A good scope is usually between 5:1 and 7:1, depending on the wind and current conditions. For example, if the water depth is 10 meters, you should let out between 50 and 70 meters of chain.
6. Sixth, you need to check if your anchor is holding well by observing the direction and stay of the chain. The direction of the chain is the angle between the chain and the ship's bow. The stay of the chain is the tension or slackness of the chain. A good direction is around 45 degrees, and a good stay is slightly taut but not too tight.
7. Seventh, you need to report your anchoring position and status to the bridge and other relevant authorities. You also need to display an anchor ball or light as a signal to other vessels that you are anchored.

These steps may vary slightly depending on the type and size of your ship and anchor, but they are generally applicable to most situations.

Now, what happens if you skip these steps and drop your anchor at full speed? Well, nothing good.

As we mentioned earlier, dropping anchor at full speed creates a huge amount of drag and tension on the anchor, the chain, the hawsepipe, and the ship itself. This can result in one or more of these scenarios:

• Scenario 1: The anchor breaks free from the chain or the seabed and becomes a useless hunk of metal.
• Scenario 2: The chain snaps or tears out of the hawsepipe like a hot knife through butter.
• Scenario 3: The anchor holds tight to the seabed, but the ship doesn't stop.
• Scenario 4: The anchor holds tight to the seabed, and the ship does stop or slow down significantly.

Let's look at each scenario in more detail.

Scenario 1: The anchor breaks free from the chain or the seabed

This scenario happens when either:

• The anchor is not strong enough to withstand the force of the ship's momentum
• The chain is not strong enough to withstand the force of the anchor's drag
• The seabed is not firm enough to hold the anchor's flukes

In any case, this means that you have lost your anchor and your ability to stop or slow down your ship. You also have wasted a lot of money and resources for nothing.

Scenario 2: The chain snaps or tears out of the hawsepiper

This scenario happens when either:

• The chain is not strong enough to withstand the force of the ship's momentum
• The hawsepiper is not strong enough to withstand the force of the chain's pull
• The windlass is not fast enough to control or brake the chain's run

In any case, this means that you have lost your anchor and your ability to stop or slow down your ship. You also have created a loose and heavy chain that can whip around like a mad snake, ready to smash anything in its path. This could include your hull, your propeller, your rudder, or even your crew.

Scenario 3: The anchor holds tight to the seabed, but the ship doesn't stop

This scenario happens when either:

• The ship is going too fast for the anchor to slow it down
• The water depth is too shallow for the scope to be effective
• The windlass is not fast enough to control or brake the chain's run

In any case, this means that you have not stopped or slowed down your ship enough to prevent a collision or a grounding. You also have put a lot of stress and strain on your ship's structure, equipment, and cargo. You could also injure or kill anyone on board who wasn't prepared for the sudden change of direction or speed.

Scenario 4: The anchor holds tight to the seabed, and the ship does stop or slow down significantly

This scenario happens when either:

• The ship is going slow enough for the anchor to slow it down
• The water depth is deep enough for the scope to be effective
• The windlass is fast enough to control or brake the chain's run

In any case, this means that you have stopped or slowed down your ship enough to avoid a collision or a grounding. This is the best case scenario, but it's still not ideal. Why?

Because you have put a lot of stress and strain on your anchor and chain, which could weaken them over time or cause them to malfunction in the future. You also have risked damaging your ship or injuring your crew for no good reason.

Conclusion

Dropping anchor at full speed is a very dangerous and reckless thing to do. It can cause serious damage to your ship, your anchor, and even your crew. It can also fail to stop or slow down your ship in an emergency.

The correct way to drop anchor is to follow the basic steps we outlined above. You need to find a suitable anchorage area, slow down your ship, stop your ship over the spot where you want to drop your anchor, communicate with your forward anchor party, lower your anchor slowly and gently, let out enough chain to create a proper scope, check if your anchor is holding well, report your anchoring position and status, and display an anchor ball or light.