BML Revision: Anchor Work (Section 1, part 5)

Revision card 5 of 16 — Boatmaster's Licence, Tier 1 Level 2 Underpinning Knowledge, MSN 1853 Annex 10. New for Level 2 — Annex 9 only tests maintaining an anchor watch; this section adds the anchor gear and procedure itself.

What You Need to Know

• Types of anchor in common use on vessels operating in inland waterways, harbours and coastal sea areas
• Parts of anchors, spurling and hawse pipes, connection and marking of anchor cables, chain lockers and connections, bow stoppers and other securing devices
• Securing anchors and cables for passage, and the importance of maintaining watertight integrity
• Anchoring terminology, and the lights, shapes and sound signals for vessels at anchor
• Preparations and procedures for anchoring operations, including in an emergency
• Safety precautions when anchoring and securing anchors, including the safe use of machinery

Quick Self-Check

• Name the parts of an anchor and cable arrangement from the hawse pipe to the chain locker.
• What sound and light signals must a vessel at anchor show?
• Why does watertight integrity matter when securing an anchor and cable for passage?

Related Reading

• Multiple cruise ship anchor/chain failures — a real safety bulletin on anchor systems failing once swell exceeds their calm-water design limits