Anchoring and mooring operations

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.1

Mooring and Anchoring Standard mooring lines are: bow line (forward), stern line (aft), forward spring (running aft from the bow), after spring (running forward from the stern), and breast lines (perpendicular to the dock at the beam).

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.2

Mooring and Anchoring Anchor scope — the ratio of rode length to water depth plus bow height — should be 7:1 in good holding ground and calm conditions, 10:1 in storm conditions. Less scope reduces holding power; the rode must rest along the bottom for the anchor to set.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 2 §2.3

Mooring and Anchoring Common anchor types: Danforth (lightweight, high holding power in sand and mud, poor in rocks); plough (CQR, Delta — good general-purpose, harder to stow); Bruce (claw — good in weeds); mushroom (permanent moorings); fluke (small craft).

33 CFR §164.19

Requirements for vessels at anchor. The master or person in charge of each vessel that is anchored shall ensure that: (a) A proper anchor watch is maintained; (b) Procedures are followed to detect a dragging anchor; and (c) Whenever weather, tide, or current conditions are likely to cause the vessel's anchor to drag, action is taken to ensure the safety of the vessel, structures, and other vessels, such as being ready to veer chain, let go a second anchor, or get underway using the vessel's own propulsion or tug assistance. [CGD 74-77, 42 FR 5956, Jan. 31, 1977]

NAVEDTRA 14067 §4-2

Mooring lines and making the ship fast A ship is moored alongside by a set of lines that each do a specific job. Working forward to aft, the standard mooring arrangement is: head lines (lead forward from the bow to the pier) and stern lines (lead aft from the stern) hold the ends in; breast lines (lead nearly at right angles to the ship) hold her bodily against or off the pier; and spring lines control fore-and-aft movement — a forward (bow) spring leads forward from aft and prevents the ship moving astern, an after (stern) spring leads aft from forward and prevents her moving ahead. To send a line ashore, a heaving line (a light line weighted with a monkey's fist) is thrown to the pier and used to haul the mooring line's eye across, which is then dropped over a bollard; the ship's crew t…

NAVEDTRA 14067 §4-3

Ground tackle and anchoring from the deck Ground tackle is the anchor, chain, and associated gear a ship uses to anchor. On the forecastle the chain leads from the chain locker up through the spurling pipe, over the wildcat of the anchor windlass, through the hawsepipe, and out to the stockless anchor stowed in the hawsepipe. Holding the anchor and chain when not heaving are the brake on the wildcat and, more securely, a chain stopper — a pelican hook or riding pawl that takes the strain off the windlass while the ship rides to her anchor. Anchor chain is made up in shots (15 fathoms, 90 feet, each), joined by detachable links, and marked by a paint-and-wire color code at each shot so the crew can call how much chain is out as it runs. Anchoring: with the anchor walked out clear of the ha…