Chief Officer Andre Tackles a Weighty Subject — The Anchor

A while ago I wrote an article about the anchor and mooring gear, now here’s the follow-up.

Eurodam’s anchors have arrived. To show the size, my height is 186 centimeters (6 feet, 2 inches), so the picture with me standing next to the anchor gives you an idea of its size.

The anchors each weigh 10,580 kilograms, or 23,276 lbs! Each anchor will be attached to 13 lengths of anchor chain. One length is 15 fathoms, or 90 feet long. The attachment of chain to anchor, and for the lengths to each other is done by using connecting links, also know as kenter shackles.

The shackles come in four parts — two halves, one center piece and a locking pin. That way, you can also disconnect it in the future.The reason for this is that the first few lengths of chain are used the most during anchoring.

If they are worn past the allowed specifications, usually after about five to sx years, during the drydock period of the ship the first length is put all the way at the end, length two becomes one, three becomes two, and so forth. That process is called end-for-ending.

The last length of the chain is connected inside the chain locker to a pin, and is called the bitter end. More a rope worker’s term than a knot term, the reference is to the end of a rope that is tied off, hence the expression, “to the bitter end.”

UPDATE: In response to a question from a reader, Andre let us know hos long the anchor chains are: 364 meters.