200249 The Bitter End
The Bitter End
Report No. 200249
Recently on board of one of our vessels the bitter end of the starboard anchor has been damaged as a result of using too much cable. The vessel was lying to starboard anchor, in deep water, therefore 9 shackles were used.
After a while, the weather deteriorated and the vessel began dragging her anchor. The engine could not be used as the engineers were in the process of transferring a large piece of machinery in the engine-room. A decision to pay out another shackle of cable was taken to try and stop the vessel dragging her anchor. This was done by lowering the cable using the winch brake. When the 10th-shackle mark was sighted coming up on deck, the Chief Officer received orders to pay out another 10 metres of cable. The Chief Officer commenced lowering the anchor cable but had to stop as there was no more loose cable remaining in the locker.
The cable bitter end was inspected and it was found that the securing pin housing and bulkhead had been damaged. This could not be repaired by the ship's staff and therefore has been postponed until dry-dock.
Lessons Learned
- Ship's staff in charge of anchoring must be familiar with the equipment they are in charge of. The officer in charge of anchoring must know the number of shackles available on each anchor.
- To assist with the above we require that the amount of shackles available on each of the anchors be stencilled in a conspicuous place on each windlass.