The Truth About Anchoring Huge Ships

[@davetir]

I never thought that a lesson in how anchors work would ever be warranted, until this video. Now anchors and anchoring systems are actually really interesting. Surprising how many things in this world you take for granted when you always think, "Well, that's self explanatory"

[@alwaysbearded1]

This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of anchoring in general. A real good overview of anchoring for large ships. Smaller boats use different types of anchors and anchoring systems. Fascinating and oh so important for sailors who are not marina hopping and need to be safe over night. Small boats use a variety of anchor styles to dig in below the surface of the bottom using the weight of the ground above the anchor to help hold. Anchor chain, where used, is used to hold the anchor flat on the bottom so it digs in not up. It can take a long time for an anchor to burrow and develop full holding power.

[@koharaisevo3666]

I'v actually always been wondering how anchor work, it look so tiny compare to the ship how it going to keep the ship from floating away and how the fluke (doesn't know what it's called until this video) hold securely to the sea bed just by dropping it.

[@alwaysbearded1]

@@koharaisevo3666 The holding power compared to the weight of the ship is amazing but the forces needed to keep the ship in place are not related to the weight of the ship. My 33 lbs. anchor with 40' of chain and as much nylon rope as I need for the conditions (chain and or rope used for anchoring is called the rode) will hold my nearly 13,000 lbs. boat but I'm really holding against the forces of wind on the hull and rig, wave action, and maybe a tidal stream as well. The forces might only be hundreds to a thousand or so pounds, maybe just a tenth of the weight but still much more than the weight of the anchor and chain. The anchor will hold the boat bow on to the dominant force, wind or current so the forces are less, less wind or water force on the pointy bit. If an anchor had to hold the ship sideways the force would be so much more.

[@rajbagwe3732]

Sooo true! I didn't watch this video even though it was appearing in my recommendations for the past two days thinking that anchors just drop down and stop the ship. I was soooo freaking wrong... There indeed are a many things we take granted thinking that those are "Self Explanatory"...

[@drozone3658]

Now I can use the word catenary around the engineering team at work and look smart!

[@DestroyerMariko]

I love how KZbin teaches me random things I didn't ask for and will never use and yet I'm fascinated anyway XD

[@jordan9318]

yeah agreed. channels like this shows the strength of the internet. The sharing of information. All the insta stars and influencers trying to flog a pair kickers shows its weakness.

[@zambroata]

Their algorithm really superb

[@mikefabbi5127]

Agreed, and it has given nerds a platform for geeks like us to listen. And I mean that in a positive way.

[@Athispointwhocares]

School teachers are going to be referring to this comment in the future

[@keen125]

You'd be surprised where little silly knowledge can be applied in your everyday life

[@ministryofwrongthink6962]

“It’s just the weight of the chain, not the digging” THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Same for me!

[@dontuno]

@@Allan_aka_RocKITEman Me too!

[@K9JT]

It should also chainge the way you spell change ;-)

[@dontuno]

@@K9JT Didn't spot that initially but got there in the end. 😃

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@@K9JT >>> Good one...👌

[@machich.1368]

I actually learned that one of the most dangerous parts of the ship can be the chain locker. Not because there is several tons of metal chain link but because the sheer amount of metal can actually deplete the oxygen in that compartment through oxydation if not properly ventilated.

[@alexisdetocqueville9964]

Never thought about that before. Very cool fact.

[@kimpatz2189]

When you see multiple nuts holding a hatch (more than 10), its likely there to prevent crews from opening it on seas. The risk of getting suffocated when entering on these hatches are 100% death. And the chain locker is one such hold that has multiple nuts on its access hatch.

[@ws8061]

Yeah there are a ton of areas and voids that require a gas free certificate to enter on ships but they are typically difficult to acess and are labled well. What's really crazy is how fast you can pass out and subsequently die entering these spaces without the propper equipment or degassing procedures. In the Navy we are taught not to enter even just to try and pull someone out because of previous incidents where rescuers become casualties and multiple people parish. That's really wild though that metal oxidizing is the reason I never knew that but it makes sense.

[@drewdabbs418]

I watched a something about an industrial accident where somebody sufficated in a chain locker and then the person who went to rescue them also died. I think two people tried to save them and died. Confined spaces are no joke.

[@FemboyEngineer]

Or there could be electrolytic components can be used to suffocate the saltwater to prevent the further electrolytic oxidisation

[@michaelhall9138]

When I was in the Navy we were anchored and started dragging the anchor. The OOD didn’t believe us (CIC watch) until the navigator confirmed it. He got in a bit of trouble for dragging the anchor and not believing us.

[@silvershamrock5489]

OOW would have to be a flog to not trust the people doing the anchor watches

[@RetiredSailor60]

What ship were you on? USS Wasp LHD I dragged anchor in Trondheim in 1995. Left about 100 crew and Marines on shore.

[@racoonnylord4343]

Me an air cadet attempting to figure out boat acronyms: Well, i think POOD is petty officer on duty, so OOD is most likely Officer on duty. and if CIC is cadet in charge, wait that doesn't make sense...

[@sixstringedthing]

@@racoonnylord4343 OOD: Officer of the Deck (USN). Royal Navy and commercial vessel equivalent is OOW: Officer on Watch. CIC: Combat Information Centre.

[@georgebush6002]

What happens when you start dragging anchor, let out more chain?

[@MasterKoala777]

I’m 45, and had always thought that anchors “point” downwards and dig into the ocean floor in the same direction as they’re lowered. That notion was gained from cartoons as a child. Now it all makes sense. Thank you 🙂

[@alkaholic4848]

"gained from cartoons as a child".... and films like Battleship and Pirates of the Caribbean.

[@johnscarloshowC172]

Imagine being a crab living on the sea floor and than this shit just crushes you

[@sirBrouwer]

I have seen in this nature documentary that crabs actually prefer to live inside them. They see it as a place to call home together with there offspring.

[@dkk9819]

:(

[@LOKSTED]

you can just imagine an alien ship using earth as anchor while it refuels from the sun.

[@TrapShooter68]

Kinda like Covid . . .

[@MALITH666]

sadge

[@jorisd6584]

I had no clue it is not actually the anchor itself that holds a ship in place. Great video! Edit: Don't go far into the comments, this for some reason has sparked quite a heated debate

[@sirBrouwer]

same here

[@SirPrancelot1]

The chain holds the boat, the anchor holds the chain.

[@drabberfrog]

Same

[@bismarckfamily277]

Always glory to arstozka

[@raygiordano1045]

I am surprised too that anchors are a bit more complicated than they seem at first glance.

[@robertboykin1828]

On smaller craft, I found it advisable when weather demands to take heed of foul weather/ winds/seas/ tides is to secure a heavyweight to the chain about halfway down so it will shorten the anchor scope. This will keep the anchor digging, instead of pulling up. It saved me a couple times. Good for crowded anchorages.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

For some reason I have a kettlebell in mind.

[@peterlanum6970]

You are right, but don't forget it's there when you hoist the anchor.

[@Sugarsail1]

@@PatrickKQ4HBD it's actually called a "KELLET" interestingly enough, I've used the technique a few times myself.

[@jamesTBurke]

Um no you want to add more scope not reduce it

[@JH-lo9ut]

The old beer can filled with lead.

[@netherrack58]

When I was about 11 I saw a naval monument that was just an anchor and part of its chain, I tried to lift one of the links and it would not move an inch. The link was about the same size as my hand, but it must have weighed at least 100 pounds. That made me understand just how gigantic these ships are, and after this video now I know that the weight of the chain is what keeps the ship in place. Great video!

[@beeble2003]

You're misremembering. Even a sphere of steel the size of a child's hand would only weigh about 10-15lbs. The links of an anchor chain are extremely heavy, but they're _much_ bigger than a child's hand.

[@netherrack58]

@@beeble2003 That's true

[@kcgunesq]

@@beeble2003 Not that you are wrong, but it could also be that as part of the display, they welded the links together.

[@beeble2003]

@@kcgunesq That's a very good point. I think they often do that.

[@jamesTBurke]

Um no. The information in this video is 100% inaccurate

[@yankiertem8498]

I was literally just refreshing on your channel hoping that something would magically appear after two months of inactivity and I am so happy right now. Keep the videos coming. I love them and I know other people do too.

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Yanki.

[@stevenkelby2169]

Same thing with me, and this is a great video, I learnt a lot, always wondered how anchors work, answered all my questions!

[@setharnold9764]

I've always wondered how ships pull up anchors if they've actually engaged the spades. I drastically underestimated the amount of chain. Thanks for the explanation.

[@MrTarmonbarry]

When you are what they call ''weighing anchor '', or taking it in the ship will move forward very slowly if there is a lot of chain out

[@alternator7893]

Seth yeah me too

[@1godonlyone119]

Never, EVER underestimate the amount of chain, bro!

[@jamesTBurke]

Ummm those anchors are rarely ever used. Most of the time if they are actually used in the ocean like illustrated they are cut off and left behind since they are soo heavy

[@setharnold9764]

@@jamesTBurke I figured they'd be very rarely used, because a stationary ship isn't earning any money.

[@AndyHappyGuy]

I’ve always wondered how the Anchor actually manages to remain on the seabed. I knew that the Anchor was heavy, but I couldn’t understand how it could stand the weight of the entire ship pulling on it. I never realised that the chain had such an important role in that. I just thought that it was supposed to connect the anchor to the ship. Thanks for clearing up my doubts, keep up the good work!

[@J.Severin]

Same here. Thx for the explanaition.

[@jakeski3142]

The video is a little off. The chain does absorb a lot of energy but it IS the anchor that holds the ship in place. You let out a lot of chain(rode) to get the anchor to pull at an angle that will get it to dig into the bottom.

[@jonathandpg6115]

@@jakeski3142 nope it’s not though. it’s the chain really doing most of the work, otherwise you’d let out just enough chain to get the anchor to dig...that is not the case though as for a large ship (which he mentions....) you’d need a pretty heavy anchor.

[@MrTarmonbarry]

@@jakeski3142 So what happens to your scenario if it is a roccky or smooth stone sea bed that the anchor can not bite into ??

[@JasperJanssen]

@@MrTarmonbarry well, for one those are damn rare and for two, as mentioned those make for a terrible anchoring situation even with the whole anchor chain let out.

[@RichardShelton]

I'm 71 and just found out what "anchors aweigh" really means. Thank you!

[@danashay]

As a below-decks sailor, I always wondered about this. I believed that the weight of the chain played a bigger part, and now I know. Very nicely done, please carry on!

[@dogcarman]

So *that’s* where “to the bitter end” comes from! Nice. Thank you, sir.

[@charlesxix]

It's also the end of a rope.

[@A_Eichler]

Always wondered about how the anchor (rather the chain) works. Thank you!

[@welshpete12]

The bitter or end of a rope is thought to come from the end of a cable that was bent or fixed on to the butts . The rest of the rope is called the standing part.

[@63ch31]

Always assumed it got that name from how incredibly sucky it is to lose the end of the line off the boat after not attaching it properly

[@bengrogan9710]

@@63ch31 The term Biter end is really a phrase that has evolved from its origins. The biter end is not about losing the anchor. Reaching it while paying the anchor out means the water is too deep to anchor there. To reach the bitter end means you cannot stop the ship there and must keep going to another place to weigh anchor- You cannot stop here has over centuries become seeing something through with people eventually thinking the bitter end was the stop outside naval volcab

[@kailashbtw9103]

So fascinating, anchors go completely contrary to how you think they work as a child

[@otm646]

How the anchor and chain system interact totally depends on the size vessel. The way it's described here only applies to large commercial and military vessels. Pleasure craft are not large enough for this interaction to occur.

[@russko118]

@@otm646 false, already on a 10/12 meter boat you have a metal chain anyway and you give from 3 to 5 lenght (1 lenght is the depth at hte spot) and use the same principle of anchor + chain on the bed of the sea

[@alwaysbearded1]

@@otm646 Exactly, small craft rely more on anchor design and deployment than brute weight. Very complex art just glossed over here but instructive and useful.

[@resqjason2]

The anchor essentially just pulls the chain out of the chain locker. Lol

[@russko118]

@@resqjason2 true, but it can still stuck between rocks and that a huge problem

[@sumnerwaite6390]

As a former boatswains mate on the USS Longbeach CGN-9, good job! I disengaged the “pelican hook” also. Very cool yet dangerous

[@mortified776]

Long Beach was such an amazing and unique ship. The last cruiser with the classic cruiser hull form...but also the first cruiser with nuclear propulsion, all missile main armament and a full phased array radar system more than 20 years before Aegis.

[@raitchison]

Hey we (USS Valley Forge CG-50) used to tie up on the other side of the pier from you guys all the time.

[@uhhvic]

Sup boats

[@devildog1534]

I live in Long Beach! That ship is history. I’m thinking about joining the military as well.

[@Woody-nc1ru]

I dove under the LB back in the early 90's in San Diego bay. There was a certain area we had to avoid while underneath the ship for obvious reasons. They had some E-1 or 2 in a little dingy painting the ship at the water line and had no idea we were down there. Well nobody bothered to tell him there were divers below that day. 😁 One of the guys went underneath his boat and shook it, hard. 😂 It scared the shit out of him. We were deep enough he couldn't see us but we could see him, looking frantically. We messed with him a couple more times and we could tell he wanted out. The guys on deck knew we were there so they played along.

[@adamdennis2936]

Show a very full array of anchors. I just found this channel. As a former cruiser, I think new people will love and benefit from it. I can't remember the English anchor name I settled on, but it was amazing. When I demonstrated it upon selling my boat, everyone loved it like myself.

[@hermanwooster8944]

As a pirate, I can absolutely confirm that everything here is 100% correct. arrrr

I don't understand how being a butt pirate relates to anchors?

[@bettyjane6684]

Adorable comment!

[@ShiratoriIsOffline]

I smiled a bit after I seen this

[@pharaohsmagician8329]

Fun Fact: the Act of tying a rope around the legs of a victim and throwing him over board and dragging him along the barnacle covered bottom of a ship is called Keelhauling, and its like rubbing your face against a massive cheese grater while submerged under water...often done by Pirates.

[@ShiratoriIsOffline]

@@pharaohsmagician8329 looks fun

[@kola7926]

So are you telling me that the movie battleship isnt 100% scienifically accurate?

[@viz12345]

that's outrageous!

[@MrCanadianhero]

im surprised. lol. but i mean in the movie it the anchor did drag along the ocean floor until It hit rock. which if it was strong enough might allow the ship to turn like that. but i mean its totally accurate 100% lol

[@IBaitman]

Hello twin

[@mandyu3919]

@@IBaitman LMAO I just watched a coincidence vid and I see this

[@kbanghart]

Honestly though, the parts of the movie that were representative of the board game were ingenious.

[@snakesocks]

Who would've thought that performing a handbrake-turn on a 40,000 tonne vessel is impossible?!..

[@TheNasaDude]

I don't know if it's done anymore, but the Caremar ferries serving the islands in the Gulf of Naples dropped the anchor while entering the pier and performed a handbrake style manouver. It was quite a show, they managed to land the rear ramp just a minute after stopping no more than 5 metres from the dock. They were 1400t ships though, not 40000

[@theInsaneRodent]

On a ship as long and relatively narrow as a battleship it really isn't. The short moment arm (think small lever) means that it would have to have a ridiculous amount of force on the chain to spin the ship. The rudder works because it is at the end of the ship pushing sideways (long lever from middle with the force at a right angle), whereas the anchor is at the front side of the ship pulling backwards (also technically a long lever, but the direction of force is nearly in line with the lever, so the moment arm (the distance of the lever perpendicular to the force) ends up being short). Well, okay, it could work if the ship was already moving sideways somehow, but battleships have keels to prevent that. So a cruise ship with it's omni directional engines might pull it off. Or well, actually... A battleship can totally do a handbrake turn! It does one every time it anchors in a wind or current. The wind/current pushes it sideways and the anchor chain pulls it to point upwind/current. So yeah, they do them all the time! They just have to be moving sideways from an external force.

[@MrTarmonbarry]

@@TheNasaDude Kind of like a slingshot effect??

[@diomepa2100]

@@theInsaneRodent Momentum is mass*velocity. So yes it will obviously be able to pivot in the wind wouldn't be much of an anchor if it could not do that. In other words your velocity is near zero, and so is the momentum. Doing it with a moving ship on the other hand - it's so ridiculous.

[@astro_manta9733]

I'm sure it's technically possible.................very slowly

[@KPX-nl4nt]

Saying that the movie “Battleship” used some artistic license implies that artists were actually involved in its production.

[@MrOiram46]

VFX Artists

[@906999]

As An actual Maritime officer (2nd mate now) I am really proud of this explanation! Not sure if you're a sailor too, but good job!!

[@906999]

REALLY REALLY GOOD JOB actually!! I'm super impressed

[@Captainkilo384]

Same here..am also impressed I learn alot from him as a deck Officer

[@colinwaite697]

As a landlubber, I found the video absolutely fascinating.

[@TakeDeadAim]

Each 90' length is called a "shot". While anchoring the bridge needs to know how many shots are being payed out. On some anchor chains, each link weighs 300-500lbs. Each shot can weigh between 10 and 15 tons alone. The anchor itself weighs in at about one shot.

[@firstkokin2324]

Well in Europe and Russia we call them shackles, not shots haha

[@firstkokin2324]

In Russia shots are only for vodka ))

[@warrenpuckett4203]

Each shot is painted and the 1st Class BM counts them when the proper color is seen, the biggest BM usually me or Hungry and a double jack is used to slam the retaining pin in to stop chain payout. By then the chain brake is pretty hot. This is on a frigate. I don't think you could swing a big enough hammer to stop the chain on a 89,000 ton ship.

[@drsundha1]

I have a doubt. Obviously anchor plus chain should be weighing much less than a loaded ship. Then how is it that the ship's movement is restricted by the sheer weight of the chain?

[@ronblack7870]

@@drsundha1 in the water it is easy to move a ship if it is unpowered and sitting there. so the chain doesn't need to apply alot of force unless there is a current or significant wind.

[@garysmith2450]

A very good video! I’m a seafarer by profession and I’d say you’ve summed it up pretty well. My only comments would be that instead of saying light, medium and heavy weight, we tend to say short, medium and long stay. Also, if you wish to turn the ship in a very tight circle for example, trying to berth a ship with a following tide, we will often drop one anchor and swing around it, so we can approach the berth while stemming the tide for greater control and safety. The ship has to be doing less than a couple of knots for this to be done safely though. Once again, great vid.

[@xb0xisbetter]

I was hoping to see something like this in the comments. I know the SS Badger does it when it docks on the Michigan side of the lake. That's not a gigantic ship, but it isn't small either.

[@mandowarrior123]

This absolutely. No mention of sea anchors either though, which is perhaps more relevant real world similarity.

[@jamesTBurke]

You definitely are NOT a seafarer none of the information here was accurate and us real seafarers know that.

[@garysmith2450]

@@jamesTBurke what makes you say that then Popeye?

[@jamesTBurke]

@@garysmith2450 because it's the truth. And I don't sugar coat the truth

[@treeguyable]

Him: Honey, you're my anchor in life. Her: Oh, so im just a chain, holding you back, dragging through the mud? Him: Uh.... well..... ummmm,no honey.

[@diomepa2100]

Him: If it's any consolation, it's more effective than "the old ball and chain"

[@TheDigigram]

So I have a sticky bottom? How dare you 0.0 :D

[@Arakasi22]

In days past I always tried to leave my women with sticky bottoms....or fronts or faces or coochies. They could have it anywhere they wanted as long as they didn't try to give it back. 😉

[@alanssnack1192]

DO NOT GET MARRIED

[@treeguyable]

@@alanssnack1192 Nuthin wrong with marriage, been there 3 times, it was great, I just suck at it.

[@isavedtheuniverse]

I was on a ship that got its anchor tangled up in an old stocked anchor still attached to its chain. It was really bound up in the flukes. We dropped our anchor again and again but every time we brought it back in it was still fouled by the other anchor. It literally took all day of dropping the anchor, going back and forth to try and pull the anchor in different directions and hauling it back in. While this was all going on we also had discussions about what our options were to cut it free. There genuinely felt like no good option that didn't present a significant danger to either the ship or the torch operator.

[@tonfleuren3536]

How about lifting the anchor as far as possible, with the entangled chain above the waterline, tying a very thick rope to the old chain and to a bollard on the ship, and dropping the anchor again? Otherwise, taking the anchor up almost as far as possible, tying a rope to the chain before the winch, taking the anchor up a little (tensioning the rope), and then cutting the chain between the winch and the rope? That section of chain should be nearly free of tension. Finally, drop the anchor with the winch; you lose the anchor, but at least you can move somewhere else. Would that work? That stuff is so heavy it's almost impossible to do anything...

[@duncanread4442]

And as well all know. Never go in to the Anchor locker without breathing apparatuse. 🙂👍Love the videos👍

[@ChatBot1337]

Video: why does she need a sticky bottom? Me: immature giggling

[@MyMika2004]

ah ffs lmfao

[@caiohenrique1603]

It took way too long for me to find a comment on that, I’m disappointed

[@robotbjorn4952]

4:17

[@jamesa7506]

😊

[@straightbusta2609]

Exactly lol, I'm immature too

[@mikefochtman7164]

And the last 'shot' of chain is joined with all red. Hence the old adage for the anchor detail, "If you see red, you're dead." There's some video out there of a Navy ship that lost control, if the chain runs out too fast, capstan brake becomes useless and the bitter end tears out of the chain locker. Scary.

[@MrTarmonbarry]

Yes , thats the U.S navy ship i think you are talking about , that was a scary time for those close by . They lost control of the brake , if you find and watch it again you will see that they keep loosening it over and over , when the chain starts to run they can not wind the brake on and when they do the speed of rotation is to nuch for the brake . There are a few others like it on KZbin , one is a cargo ship and the brake linings catch fire

[@ytlas3]

The black chain then goes to yellow then to red. Yellow chain means the anchor windless brakes aren't working and to run like hell :)

[@PiPArtemis]

@@MrTarmonbarry it's a terrifying video. Imagining all that weight just soaring out of the chain locker uncontrollably

[@Nexus-6]

Welcome back, Wendover of the Seas! 🤗🌊

[@Stings2pee]

Hahaha well said!

[@ABC3-2]

I am an apprentice working with boats and this is my favorite channel. Thank you so much for helping spread this awesome boat knowledge.

[@JohnSmith-31]

Great stuff, as a landlocked bloke I learned something new today.

4:24 I love how you emphasized "bitter end," to point out that the idiomatic phrase has a nauiical origin.

[@glenchapman3899]

I wonder if it is also the origin of "Calling the shots"

[@AndrewJillings]

'Bitter end' had its origins when rope was used on the anchor, before chain was commonly available (17th and 18th centuries). When the anchor went up and down, the rope at the ship end often never got used, and was always at the bottom of the pile (no automatic washers back then). When the stinky, fetid, anchor cable came aboard, it dripped and oozed down to the bottom of the pile (in the cable tier or cable locker) and that end became 'bitter'. There's also a theory that the inboard end was attached to the ship by being wrapped around the 'bitts', or cleats as we sometimes call them. This would make it the 'bitt-er end'.

[@Ashgrey0]

@@AndrewJillings thank you

[@kubauhlir1730]

These days, it's pretty much you, Drachinifel and Historygraph, whose upload make me genuinely happy

[@peggyt1243]

For history, Mark Felton is the master. His channel has grown exponentially.

[@duartesimoes508]

Drachinifel videos are becoming needlessly long; sometimes downright boring. The first ones were great.

[@subnormality5854]

"Do you remember the film Battleship where-" No.

[@kylerluo4544]

I recommend you watch it then. Not the most scientifically accurate film, but it's quite action packed and includes a very well known piece of history (The U.S.S Missouri). It's also based on the board game Battleship. You even just watch a few scenes here on KZbin.

[@martinyt4465]

Since the first time I watched It being younger I recognized it is a CGI fake sh*t movie, but it generated a lot of interest on me into the ships and how they worked and the navy/military on general . It will always have a special feel to me.

[@tidepod10yearsago97]

"Drop the anchor" "What?!"

[@Enneamorph]

“Do you remember the film Battleship where-“ They dropped the anchor to do a sick 90° drifting broadside with an entire battleship? _Y E S_

[@andrefasching1332]

@@martinyt4465 I really dont get why CGI equals bad for some people. You simply just cant do every effekt without CGI.

[@afterburner2869]

Very interesting. I had no idea that I wanted to know about a ship’s anchor until this video was recommended to me. 👍🏻

[@mineown1861]

"Anchors aweigh" and "the bitter end" , I knew the latter one but never heard the former before , the things you learn . Many thanks for making the video and making me brighter too .

[@curquhart5637]

"Aiming to publish monthly this year" I sure hope so your content is really good

[@LeoStaley]

Every single one of your videos, and I mean literally every single one, has taught me something I would never have imagined about ships. I watch a *lot* of educational KZbin, and you're easily in my top 5 niche channels. This seems so obvious to me now, given my knowledge of math and physics, but I had no idea of it and would never have guessed it if asked. That scene in Battleship felt very wrong, but in my mind I figured that the maneuver would break they anchor. I will never, ever have an opportunity to make use of this information, but for some reason I still feel very grateful for it. Well done.

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Leo. Glad you enjoyed the videos

[@jamesTBurke]

You might wanna start watching someone else before you do something this moron says and get hurt cuz he taught you a lie

[@jamesTBurke]

That scene in the movie battle ship is a legit maneuver that dated back to the times of wooden hulled tall ships. The maneuver is rarely ever done due to the amount of strain put on the vessel but it is a 100% real life maneuver capable of being done. Don't believe me look it up

[@alkaholic4848]

@@jamesTBurke No something similar was sometimes done, but only to assist manoeuvring at very slow speeds. The handbrake turn style concept was never realistic.

[@jamesTBurke]

@@alkaholic4848 again if you actually did your research the maneuver indeed was done in the Golden age of sail

[@351cleavland]

When I was a kid I thought that an anchor would just sit in the water below a boat and it used to confuse the hell out of me how that would do anything.

[@johnlockesghost5592]

that might also explain why you misspelled Cleveland

[@badassmastermax]

@@johnlockesghost5592 lol the internet is a cold, cold place

[@351cleavland]

@@badassmastermax well, Dilligaf McBalls is OFF my Christmas list!

[@cleveland2286]

@@351cleavland I am the real cleveland now where is my Christmas present

[@brianthesnail3815]

Great video. I used to run an oil tanker fleet from a desk in London and had absolutely no idea how a ships anchor worked. Indeed, I never actually saw a tanker in real life but would order them all over the planet just the same.

[@shawnp8429]

I learn alot from KZbin, alot of silly video to but probably the best teacher I've ever had..

[@toddbrown4935]

Great video! So clear and concise! I appreciate how you also covered how the anchor chain is stored in the ship and why there is always a lot of water flowing out of the ship after raising the anchor. All makes so much sense. I had suggested this video a few months ago! Many thanks, sir!

[@SuperYachtCaptain]

Great Vid 😉😎

[@Phyde4ux]

Fun fact: The act of using an anchor to quickly change tack is called clubhauling.

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Good to know! I have been learning to sail with a coworker on a small 2 man boat on one of our local lakes. Learning terms and such has been harder than actually sailing, at least with such a small boat as he has. That boom can be one hell of a thing to watch out for. 😂 I definitely came home with a headache after the first trip. Wont make that mistake again!

[@PhantomPanic]

Same thing I call it when I leave with the strippers at closing.

[@brandonconnelly6798]

Learn that from pirates of the Caribbean did we?

[@gen157]

@@goosenotmaverick1156 This sounds like a good Imgur post. Would love to hear more about your adventures in this.

[@mrogradaigh2198]

Heard the term in use for sailing ships. A BB6n might be a bit big for the manoeuvre.

[@oildalejones567]

This was great. I work around cargo ships often and never really understood how anchors really work. Thanks.

[@1stFlyingeagle]

When I was in the navy. We many times had to keep forward thrust on to keep from dragging backward. The ship was LST 1188. Good info is given in the video. Thanks for the new knowlege.

[@belowsails]

I have been working on a diving liveaboard ship for 4 years. We had min limitation to drop anchor to 40 meters but normally 50-60. The chain broke couple of times cause of strong currents or because it stuck on the rock. My record is to dive to 56 m to find our anchor

[@grondhero]

Great to learn some new stuff! I always thought it was the anchor and the chain just "helped," along with stronger chains for heavier anchors. On a side note, for the yachting industry, they actually paint their chains different colors at the different lengths, instead of just having the shackle to go by. I'm glad to hear you'll be trying for a monthly upload, especially since February is next! :)

[@robertgould9550]

My father told me a story about when he was in the Navy on the USS Mississippi and they dropped the anchor too early going into an Anchorage. Needless to say the anchor caught the bottom played out and the chain broke. Luckily the chain broke outside the ship or it would have been really dangerous .

[@DrummerJacob]

I used to work on cruise ships for 10 years but they made me take a break and go through Anchor Management before I can return 😎

[@Kennymac8251]

Never ever would I think this is how an anchor works. Brilliant video.

[@rustysailor4672]

The chain will dampen the shock when it is lifted and will also have some friction on the ground. However, once all the chain is following the catenary line, the horizontal force on the anchor will equal the horizontal force on the ship. At this point it is only the anchor that holds the ship.

[@mytech6779]

This. I found the animation good but the narration full of bad information. I would also add that while large ships just use all heavy chain, smaller boats will often used lighter tackle and add weights at specific distances to get a better holding-power to weight ratio out of the bottom gear because they may not be using motorized anchor equipment and have less issues with shock loading because of less vessel mass for a given surface area. Also: different anchor designs for different bottom types, and some anchors have a second line on the other end in case the flukes get stuck under a rock or similar object it can be pulled back the other way. The second line is just a rope and much shorter(attached to a small buoy) also handy if the main line breaks or the bitter end wasn't secured.

[@MatthijsvanDuin]

Agreed, though even when lifted from the seabed the weight of chain still plays a critical role in ensuring the anchor can perform its task by minimizing the vertical component of the force on the anchor

[@JohnPaul-my6ct]

The ship can "anchor" without an anchor just using the chain. We have done this just running the chain out with a large buoy and towed by a boat. We did this where the bottom was just rock. So no anchor no hold on the ship?

[@MatthijsvanDuin]

@@JohnPaul-my6ct Rusty's statement had an important conditional: _once all the chain is following the catenary_ ... the scenario you're describing requires that a sufficient amount of chain is actually _resting_ on the seabed (and therefore not following a catenary), and that section of the chain effectively becomes an anchor (albeit one that is purely friction-based)

[@JohnPaul-my6ct]

@@MatthijsvanDuin So how does the catenary curve form, from anchor to hawse pipe? The cable from hawse pipe to sea floor acts as a spring because of its weight, the friction with the sea floor by the remaining cable keeps the whole assembly in position. The anchor keeps the cable in position if there is a large force on the ship. If the force is such that the cable leaves the sea floor to form a catenary from hawse to anchor you are in bad trouble! Especially if your engines aren't immediately available! The Naval handbook sets out cable lengths to allow for enough friction to be available under all circumstances, anchors are not needed. Its the same as towing a vessel the spring is provided by the weight of water on the tow rope it MUST remain submerged if it comes out of the water it will probably snap causing alarm and despondency to all concerned.

[@von_Fairhair]

I like how I already knew all of this, but your calm explanatory voice kept me listing. They should seriously use this video in nautical colleges/universities as an easy to follow explanatory video for those who prefer visualized explanations. When discussing anchor systems and important momentum.

[@McBurnside6380]

Have there ever been any instances of an anchor or chain getting caught on the sea floor? Perhaps between rocks or something similar?

[@beeble2003]

I believe so, yes. Normally, ships anchor in places where that won't happen but, in an emergency, it can be better to anchor wherever there's shelter and worry about whether you can get the anchor back later.

[@marvindebot3264]

yes it happens which is why salvage companies have specialist anchor recovery vessels. And anchor and chain on a big ship is 100s of 1000s of dollars worth.

[@kalleklp7291]

The more I look into your channel, the more I realize there is a lot regarding ships I did not know. Thanks for these videos... :)

[@ComeJesusChrist]

This was the most misleading title I have come across on KZbin for some time, yet I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@Supervhizor]

"Remember when battleship Missouri...." while showing a KG5 then what appears to be a scuffed Richelieu.

[@JasperJanssen]

If you’re doing a “handbrake anchor turn”, you’re not steaming straight ahead, you’re already turning. Which means that any force exerted by the anchor chain would indeed have a vector component that would help to turn the boat (as well as a fairly major component that slows you down). You’d definitely have to abandon the anchor chain when you’re done turning though, and I’m not rewatching that terrible movie to find out if they did.

[@daftbence]

I'll gladly rewatch that great movie, I do it every now and then. So damn goofy and unscientific but that's why I love it.

[@Fade_ToBlack]

@@daftbence “The duality of man” right here

[@docthebiker]

Think 3 dimensionally, turning to port & dropping port anchor you'd run over your chain and rip half your bows off just before you started to drag your anchor. Dropping the starboard anchor would achieve nothing.

[@revolrz22]

They did abandon the anchor chain.

[@JackGilbertJr]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHTUdZepj75qiKM They did dropthe anchor. I found out for you. PS. This movie is dumb.

[@artvandelay1099]

Me: Why is this guy making a video about how anchors work? It's obvious how an anchor works. I've seen good topics on this channel before, so, I'll watch for the hell of it. Me 6:04 later: I had NO idea how how an anchor works, and I bet 90% of people don't either. NICE! Since we're on the topic of anchors, I've seen videos of ships losing their anchors, could we get a break down of what's happening? Why the anchor isn't connected to anything at the bitter end, is it a failure of the chain brake or negligent operation of the chain brake, do they bother to recover the lost anchor and chain, how much chain does a typical ocean going vessel carry, if they do decide to recover the anchor and chain, what would a recovery operation entail, how would they "feed" the anchor chain back into the ship, etc. Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. I never thought I'd be so interested in anchors.

[@rvrrunner]

Very good video! I once had to anchor a 42' sailboat on a lee shore in the Bahamas with a storm coming in. I spent all night checking the two anchors I had set to make sure neither was dragging. Not much rest that night!

[@Noval01rd]

Oh my God!! Finally I can sleep in peace now! I've been wondering my whole life. I finally know how an anchor works and how it is recovered. Thank u!!

[@paopao.]

Now this is where the phrase "you learn something new everyday" really shines.

[@paulmerron3947]

You could learn something else today. Did you know that "everyday" and "every day" have very different meanings. I think you meant "every day" because everyday means ordinary or typical. It is good to learn something new every day otherwise our lives become monotonous and everyday.

[@dean22593]

This is the first video of yours that I’ve seen and I had no idea just how much the chain played into keeping the ship held fast. I certainly learned something from this, liked and subscribed straight after the video finished. 👍

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Dean

[@patrickstewart3446]

We didn’t have an auto chain washer. We literally did it with a guy manning a fire hose. And the first job I had in the Navy was cleaning out an anchor chain with a hand-broom and a dustpan.

[@ColoradoStreaming]

I feel like that is one of those jobs you come up with to screw with the new guy. "Hey Joe, the Anchor washer is broke down so your are going to need to clean off each link as it comes in..."

[@MrTarmonbarry]

@@ColoradoStreaming No , it used to be done as he said , just with a fire hose and it could be a filthy job depending on what the sea bed was like . Rivers are the worst , all mud

[@_Ekaros]

@@ColoradoStreaming You have to remember that in Navy the manpower is essentially free, if not already paid for... So some penny pincher can make decision between washer and something nice for officers...

[@res1492]

Thank you for this, i have always wondered about the physics behind anchors, it's more complicated than you'd think.

[@spiralnapkin]

Well, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this information but I am truly grateful for it.

[@TrainMan2345]

I really enjoyed this vid I never thought anchors worked like that!

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Trainman

[@TrainMan2345]

@@CasualNavigation (:

[@toveychurchill6468]

Hi there I see you're back I thought the ancho would snap for manoeuvre shown in the movie:) Also , i think 5:46 is a French battleship or battlecruiser (both classes look pretty similar) , not quite USS Missouri But I am really thrilled to see battleships , so it doesn't really bother me I really like that King George V class model too

[@gabrielsistonamoca6963]

the ship was a French Richelieu class

[@johnswanwick5439]

@@gabrielsistonamoca6963 The Richelieu class had a single smoke stack, I don't think that is an actual ship.

[@cottoncatt1186]

@@johnswanwick5439 And Richelieu didn't have that "bunker" with a secondary battery on it behind the B turret.

[@MrTarmonbarry]

You are right , the chain would be ripped out of the ship , the forces involved would be huge

[@xXRunDeathXx]

dunno why this was recommended to me. No interest in ships or naval Navigation nor any of the wars or machinery of the naval forces.... but damn thats great content. i did learn something and it was very enjoyable. thanks for that and keep up the good work!

[@actuallyyoureright7041]

i don’t know who this dude is or why he’s on my fyp, but i’m glad he is

[@TheLegendaryMariner]

Thank you for bringing out the nitty gritty of our profession so smoothly and precisely.

[@Simon-Zephyr]

Found this channel today and I've binge watched, literally every video. I'm from Southampton, UK so I always see huge cruise and container ships, glad to now know a little more about them! Appreciate the good content, I've been on KZbin for 12 years, I can tell you've put in a lot of work into these videos, hope the channel continues to grow.

[@cr1490]

Catenary prononciation sounds so different than what I’m used to

[@amgemin]

Your spelling is right though.

[@tonyb2271]

I always heard it as "ka-ten-airy", maybe US vs British pronunciation.

[@rosewhite---]

@@tonyb2271 in UK it's katti nary. All electric trains get their power from katti naries.

[@ofngol]

@@amgemin Yes. The video said catenery and I know it's actually catenary. Spelling error aside, it's still an awesome video.

[@fecu2394]

Where the water is deeper than the length of the anchor, would dropping anchor limit drifting?

[@thecrazyfarmboy]

That's an interesting question. I imagine it must have some effect, if minimal, but I'd like to hear it from someone who actually knows

[@aykutcoskun6092]

I am not an expert, would love to hear reality from one. I think it would because anchor and chain wants to stay perpendicular to ship due to gravity. When ship moves drag force from anchor would effect ships movement. I don't think it can be good enough though.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

I do know for a fact that "Treibanker" - meaning "drifting anchors" are a thing, but those are mostly used for smaller vessels such as yachts. And unlike regular anchors these do not tether the ship to the ground, but rather are a means to control the vessel's movement in, say rough seas by keeping the bow turned into the wind. This is particularly important if the vesseel's means for propulsion are for some reason not operational. See here for details: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_anchor

[@CasualNavigation]

We were always taught to lower the anchor if possible as it will help slow the drifting. As the water shallows, it also gives the best chance of catching as early as possible.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

Well, it increases the surface area of the ship, so it increases the drag forces and the ship should come to a hold faster. The question is: how big is the effect?

[@BuzzSargent]

I was wondering why I was watching this show. Then by the end realized how much I had learned. Good Show... Happy trails

[@uss_04]

I get the feeling that in the wake of what happened in Baltimore this video will really get views

[@ianmoriarty2199]

Could you also cover how old anchors worked during the age of sail, as well as what the process of manually weighing anchor looked like?

[@mandowarrior123]

They used a capstan, which is a multi purpose spooling device you can man with several men. You'll probably know what they are if you see one. Old anchors do work essentially the same.

[@JH-lo9ut]

@@mandowarrior123 and there is a poor fellow assigned to "stow the chain" down in the chain compartment. This is done by the help of a big iron hook that you use to distribute the coils of chain evenly as it is taken in. If you just let it fall randomly into the chain compartment, it may kink and get stuck the next time the anchor is dropped. Needless to say, this is an extremely heavy and dirty job, but essential non the less.

[@alkaholic4848]

Yeah Pirates of the Caribbean is about the same level of realism as Battleship. It wouldn't work there either.

[@muskokamike127]

Great explanation. I used to have a 30 foot sport cruiser and the rule of thumb was 3x the amount of anchor rope to the depth of water. Once you let out enough line, you put your engines in reverse to tug or set the anchor. The amount of force you apply with the engines is the amount of force the set anchor can withstand. So if you're going to over night, and don't want to break free and drift, you look at the weather forecast, direction of the wind, the wind speed and calculate how much force to apply to the anchor to set it. I only had about 5 feet of chain but now I know why larger boats had longer chains.......

[@drozone3658]

Fascinating how the chain is heavy enough to stop a ship but not sink a ship

[@aftokratory]

The end of the chain connected to the ship exerts a force with a horizontal component that keeps the ship from drifting away. It doesn't pull the ship down, it keeps it in place by pulling against the flow of the water. The force required is much less than the weight of the ship, it only needs to counteract the force exerted on the ship by the current of water. And the ship will not sink because the water provides a vertical buoyancy force equivalent to the weight of the ship. The weight of chain won't sink the ship because the hull of the ship is of sufficient volume to displace a volume of water with mass much greater than that of the ship, its contents and the chain combined.

[@drozone3658]

@@aftokratory I meant the weight of it when it’s rolled up on deck just amazes me. Thanks for the info sir I appreciate it. Buoyancy is so cool

[@aftokratory]

@@drozone3658 Oh sorry. The ship can easily much more cargo than the chain. The chain only needs to be heavy enough so that the tension at either end is enough to withstand the current of the water.

[@glennrishton5679]

I worked on sea going tugs towing large seagoing barges, A link of chain on the barges anchor weighed about 80 pounds, roughly 90 links per shot of chain, 90 feet. When anchoring we usually put out 5 to 7 shots depending on depth of water and the bottom as well as currents. Some chain is much larger than what we had as well..

[@phillhart2990]

When I just want to "learn something cool" - I come to this channel and watch these vids, and I'm never disappointed.

[@gregatron11]

I've ALWAYS wanted to know how anchors work, especially on big ships. Thanks!!!

[@hvalour1]

I think that the anchor is more important for holding power than is implied in this video. I say this because ive spent most of my adult life working on anchor handling tugs and i handled plenty of anchors that were attached to their vessel by steel wire rope, or cable, ie laybarge. I also see plenty of wire in semisub mooring systems, i even installed nylon rope into semi sub mooring systems, as well as buoys into systems to keep them off the bottom.

[@jakeski3142]

Yeah this video got that part wrong.

[@saltyseadawg4768]

I think the short video was aimed at the layperson and focused mainly on anchoring a typical large commercial vessel. In that regard I think it did quite well. Your point is equally valid but I think it’s going to need it’s own video on the application of high-holding power anchors. Honestly I’m just amazed at the number of people interested in this video and just a little bit amused by some of the comments.⚓️

[@dat2ra]

That's because you've been on li'l boats, not ships.

[@hvalour1]

@@dat2ra lol yes and some of those li'l boats could maneuver and propel the largest of ships across a big ocean, while the ship's had narry a soul onboard.

[@Swingin_wit_Willy]

I was also thinking the same thing... otherwise why would you bother with the anchor in the first place? Secondly his explanation of how an anchor needs a sticky bottom to bite, not solid rock, goes against his belif that the chain does all the work. Thirdly if its under heavy force and it picks up the chain does the anchor just pop out? He said they need to power up to the anchor while removing the chain untill they are directly above it... shouldnt they just be able to just pull the anchor up with out powering up to the anchor in the first place if the chain is doing "all the work"?

[@bumblebeebob]

"Remember the movie "Battleship...?" Ah yes... The movie with plot holes in it so large you could drive a battleship through. But it's still an awesome, mindless, popcorn flick! 🤣🤣😎

[@clefsan]

naval version of "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift" looked pretty cool, though. and the background music for that was awesome and fit well (anyone who doesn't like AC DC's Thunderstruck has no taste in music :D)

[@rosaamarillo2110]

🎵Who made who?? 🎶

[@ilfardrachadi2318]

It's the kind of movie you can have silly fun watching, then spend the next couple of hours down at the pub having a blast laughing at it. Getting the old girl underway will never stop being a great scene.

[@warriordragonify]

The multiple rapid broadsides were especially noteworthy...On the OTHER hand: Giant Bugs and Explosions!

[@humblerc841]

It's not what she needs, it's just what she ends up with.

[@VoidHalo]

There's nothing I love more than engineering and applied physics. So needless to say, I was in heaven for this video. Guess what channel I'm binge watching tonight. hehe.

[@chrisperrien7055]

as noted , Big ships just about never have their anchors "work" , it is the weight of the anchor chain that holds the ship in place. And you really don't want the anchor "digging in" and it being pulled on with a lot of force as it is a good way to lose an anchor.

[@scottsaulsbury4887]

The third "option" not defined at the end of the video is that the chain can simply fail from the strain, leaving the anchor (and whatever chain had been deployed past the parting) on the bottom. Depending on the specifics of the area, that can lead to a new "obstruction" warning on AIS.

[@banquetable]

The windlass brake or stopper would fail before any of the links. If that happened the chain would run out uncontrolled until either the bitter end (designed to be the weak link) broke or it took the chain locker and a decent chunk of the fo'csle out 😁 Also why ships rarely 'let go' the anchor (letting gravity pull the chain out of the locker) as the only way to slow it would be using the brake which would likely overheat from friction and fail. Instead it's 'walked out' where the windlass is kept in gear and used to slowly feed the chain out, much more controlled.

[@scottsaulsbury4887]

@@banquetable , agreed about paying out the chain under normal circumstances, and I'm also not arguing your main point. The thing is that anchors and chains DO end up on the bottom. On October 21, 2020, the Panamax bulker Hampton Bridge lost power while outbound, fully laden and about to enter the Columbia River bar. She deployed both anchors and spent several hours on a strong ebb tide awaiting help from tugs from upriver. At some point, one of the chains parted. Could have been at the bitter end. I don't know, because I wasn't aboard. I was observing and photographing from shore. But I do know that the hardware is still on the bottom and is marked by AIS. Local bar and river pilots have mentioned other mishaps with anchors and chains going missing when approaching the anchorage. Short story long... "shit happens."

[@banquetable]

@@scottsaulsbury4887 Oh yep, they do absolutely and you are right about that. It's very unlikely to be because of a chain breaking though and 99% of the time would be that the anchor has got caught on a pipeline or telephone/electric cable etc. - something which people would be upset if you broke 😁 The procedure then is to undo one of the joining shackles and lower the chain to the bottom marked by a buoy to be retrieved later by divers/salvage.

[@shawnbottom4769]

Best questions ever answered on the internet’s, both by this channel: Why does she need a sticky bottom? And....Why is her bottom red?

[@cezarcatalin1406]

All immature internet boys are pleased. ... your username is indicative too 😄

[@TheLilmuzzy]

“Do you remember the film battleship?” -I wish I didn’t

[@kingt0295]

Its never bad to remember Rihanna

[@FutureStyles]

Thank you Casual Navigation. I am now ready to captain my first ship.

[@stejer211]

Never really understood anchoring and never bothered to investigate... but now I have the knowledge!

[@fluent4530]

Talks about the USS Missouri Model *King George Class* Me *TRIGGERED NOISES*

[@mcTREXmcTheAmazing]

I'm assuming light weight, medium weight and heavy weight are the same meaning as short stay, medium stay and long stay? I work on cruise ships and we never used those terminologies but it is interesting to know that there are different phrases used! Fantastic video as always :)

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks mcTREXmc. Yes, those are interchangeable. Some officers use "stay" and some use "weight", but the meaning is the same.

[@saltyseadawg4768]

Pretty much. Same with, ‘anchor chain’ aka ‘cable’, regardless of its composition.

[@Englandsbestlover]

And there was me thinking the film “Battleship” was a masterpiece

[@tuck3771]

I am 100% for Battleship

[@phillawrence6413]

Rihanna really stole the show.

[@BuildsWithV]

Thanks KZbin for the recommendation. I didn’t know this and definitely didn’t “need” to know. But gosh am I glad I saw this video. Very entertaining and interesting.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

This is one of the better videos I've seen on the subject.