Ships and vessels exhibit anchoring more often to stay stable in water. This practice ensures the safety of vessels during harsh weather conditions. However, anchoring is not as easy as it seems. Small mistakes can result in wrong anchoring. Therefore, knowing what should be avoided when anchoring is very important.
Have you ever heard of failed anchoring efforts? That happens when a ship or vessel does not anchor correctly. As a result, it keeps moving or drifting instead of staying at one point. Anchoring quickly and correctly is what every ship pilot loves. In this article, you’ll learn about the mistakes that must be avoided for smooth anchoring. So, let’s get started!
Overview of Anchoring & its Importance
Anchoring is the process that ships exhibit to stay stable at one position in the water body. It is done by throwing an anchor (made of metal) into the water. This anchor grips the seabed. This gripping of the anchor keeps the ship from drifting or moving due to water waves or wind.
The ships and large vessels can stay anywhere in the water body with the help of anchors. For example, people might like to fish. In such cases, the boater can anchor the boat by throwing an anchor. The anchor remains attached to the bow of vessels through anchor lines (ropes or chains). Let’s discuss why the correct anchor is so essential:
- First, proper anchoring ensures the vessel stays stable, preventing ships from drifting away.
- Anchoring is essential if there is more than one ship in the anchoring area. If you don’t anchor, your boat will collide with another vessel due to drifting.
- You can stay at any part of the sea or river with the help of anchoring. Without anchoring, your stay in the sea would be shaky and unstable.
- Anchoring helps if you face harsh weather in the middle of the sea. You can simply anchor the ship and wait for the weather to calm. Your boat won’t move away due to extreme wind. If you don’t anchor, you may lose control of the ship in bad weather.
Wat moet je vermijden bij het verankeren?
There is no doubt that anchoring is very helpful for safe marine travel. However, many things can affect the anchoring process. Committing a small mistake will result in the anchor not getting a firm grip on the seabed. In the upcoming section, I will discuss those common mistakes. You should avoid those mistakes during anchoring for better performance and safety.
1- Choosing an Unsuitable Anchoring Spot
First of all, you should never anchor in rocky areas. For example, imagine you drop anchor where the seabed has rocks. In such a case, your anchor won’t grip properly. As a result, the ship will keep drifting due to a lack of grip. Remember, anchoring is all about getting a firm grip on the seabed.
I recommend anchoring your vessel in a muddy area. The anchor will firmly grip the seabed, keeping the ship stable and stationary. Some portions of the sea have stronger tides and waves than others. You should look for an area with minimal waves. This will ensure a smooth anchoring process.
2- Wrong Type of Anchor
You should never use an anchor if you don’t know about it. This is a famous saying among sailors. Different types of anchors are available and specific in their functionality. For example, the Danforth anchors are generally suitable for anchoring in muddy or sandy areas.
These anchors won’t work if you use them to anchor your ship on a hard or rocky surface. On the flip side, the plow anchor is ideal for anchoring boats on the rocky surface. They have pointed tips that quickly dig into the rocks and keep the ship from drifting.
Therefore, you should understand the purpose of each anchor before using it. Moreover, the size of the anchor also matters. You should never use a lightweight anchor for a heavy-duty boat. It won’t provide enough force to keep the vessel stable. Conversely, using a heavy-duty anchor for a small boat is also not advisable.
3- Using Small or too Long Anchor Line
The anchor lines are a crucial element in the anchoring process. The wrong size of these ropes or anchor lines can result in improper anchoring. Choosing shorter anchor lines will result in the anchor not going deep enough to grip the seabed. So, it won’t keep the ship from drifting. Even with an anchor grip, there will be a steep angle.
As a result, the anchor won’t be able to hold more weight on the ship. On the other hand, long anchor lines should also be avoided. They can cause unnecessary drag and sway, which leads to instability. In the previous article, I mentioned choosing the right anchor line size. I recommend reading that article for a better understanding.
Snel hoogtepunt: The ideal size for anchor lines is 5:1. You should choose a five-foot-long anchor line if you are anchoring at the water depth of one foot. If the weather conditions are harsh, you use a scope of 7:1 or 9:1. However, the 5:1 scope size works fine in most anchoring conditions.
4- Not Checking If the Anchor is Holding
It might seem like a small mistake, but it can result in a significant accident. You must check if the anchor is holding correctly or not. This is more important when anchoring the ship in a busy anchorage point. For example, you ignore checking, and the anchor does not hold properly. So, the ship will keep drifting.
The chances of your ship colliding with nearby ships and vessels will be high. Therefore, you should always check the anchor holding before leaving. You can do so by moving the boat in the opposite direction of the anchor. If the anchor pulls the ship, it means it is holding, and vice versa. Moreover, you can check by noticing small, consistent drifts of vessels in one direction.
5- Dropping the Anchor Incorrectly
Some people make the mistake of throwing the anchor quickly. In such a case, the anchor and its lines rapidly enter the water. So, anchors can get tangled in their chains of anchor lines. As a result, it won’t dig into the seabed. Therefore, I recommend that you drop the anchor steadily.
This will allow it to settle at the seabed smoothly. Once the anchor touches the seabed, you can leave the ropes. Once the anchor touches the seabed, you should move the ship slightly. This slight movement of the vessel will result in the anchor getting a grip on the seabed. In short, avoid dropping the anchor in a hurry.
6- Forgetting to Mark the Anchor Line
While anchoring, you have to release the anchor line or ropes with the anchor. Right? Using the correct anchor line length is crucial. Using anchor chains that are too small or too long can lead to improper anchoring. You can know what size of anchor line should be used by using a 5:1 scope ratio.
But how would you know about how much rope you have released? In this case, marking the anchor line comes in handy. When releasing the anchor line, you should mark the line after a regular interval. For example, you can mark any color on the line line after every 5 feet. This way, you will know the correct length of rope you release during anchoring.
7- Getting Shy to Use Second Anchor When Needed
Correct anchoring depends heavily on the weather. Unfortunately, weather is an uncontrolled element in maritime. Right? Therefore, you should always carry two anchors on your ships. A single anchor works fine in normal conditions to keep the boat stable. However, sometimes the weather can go against our expectations.
The high waves and currents can make the ships drift. Single anchor fails against such strong tides. If you are in such a condition, don’t hesitate to drop your second anchor. This second anchor will ensure that your ship doesn’t move despite the extreme weather conditions. Many people are lazy when it comes to dropping the second anchor.
8- Tying the Anchor to the Stern
Generally, vessels have dedicated points where you can tie the anchor. This point is located on the bow of the ships. But small boats don’t have dedicated markings for tying the anchor. So, newbies make the mistake of tying the anchor on the stern (back of the ship).
This is a wrong practice as it can create imbalance. Remember, the stern is fragile and cannot handle the weight and pull of the anchor. Therefore, you should avoid using a stern to tie the anchor. The bow of small to large boats is very strong and durable. You should tie the anchor and its lines with the bow.
Conclusie
Anchoring ensures that ships stay in one place. So, it works wonders in protecting ships from colliding. However, this anchoring process is not as simple as one may expect. Despite its easy operation, some factors can affect the anchoring process. In this article, I have listed all those factors and mistakes that can lead to wrong anchoring.
You must avoid all these mistakes when anchoring. In the end, people believe anchoring is risky. But this is not the reality. Proper anchoring can help you stay safe in water when the weather is too extreme. However, poor anchoring can result in ship drifting, creating safety concerns.