NS302

Mooring and Anchoring Procedures

Mooring
Challenging evolution in which it is vital as a conning officer or deck safety officer to know the deck equipment, deck fittings, and proper use of mooring lines

Learning Objectives
Describe the different type of deck equipment Recite standard linehandling commands used in anchoring evolutions Describe the safety precautions associated with mooring and anchoring procedures Outline the steps in preparing to anchor, including the events leading to anchoring, readying the anchor and letting go the anchor

Learning Objectives
Describe procedures for weighing anchor List two methods for mooring to buoy

Deck and Pier Fittings

consist of the following

Cleats
Bollards Chocks

Bitts

Towing Pads

Deck and Pier Fittings

Cleat - Consists of a doubleended pair of horns, used for securing a line or wire. Bitts - Pair of heavy vertical cylinders implanted on ships deck, used for making fast lines led through chocks. Bollard - Strong cylindrical upright on a pier, about which a mooring line is placed.

CLEAT

Deck and Pier Fittings

Cleat - Consists of a doubleended pair of horns, used for securing a line or wire. Bitts - Pairs of heavy vertical cylinders inplanted on ships deck, used for making fast lines led through chocks. Bollard - Strong cylindrical upright on a pier, about which a mooring line is placed.

BITTS

Deck and Pier Fittings

Cleat - Consists of a doubleended pair of horns, used for securing a line or wire. Bitts - Pairs of heavy vertical cylinders inplanted on ships deck, used for making fast lines led through chocks. Bollard - Strong cylindrical upright on a pier, about which eye of mooring line is placed.

BOLLARD

3 Types of Chocks
Chock - Heavy fitting with smooth surfaces through which mooring lines are led.

Open

Closed

Roller

Rollers help reduce friction.

Deck and Pier Fittings

Padeye metal plate with an eye attached to the deck to distribute a load over a large area in which block is attached
Towing pad - large pad eye of extra strength used in towing operations

Deck and Pier Fittings

Mooring lines are typically run through bits on deck then through chocks to bollards on pier

Other Mooring Equipment

Capstan - Separate vertical machinery units or part of the anchor windlass around which lines are passed, commonly used in mooring and anchoring evolutions.
Capstan Wildcat

Anchor Windlass

Capstan

Wildcat

Each works as an independent unit

Other Mooring Equipment

Rat guards - Shields secured around mooring lines to prevent rats from coming aboard ships. - Circular metal disk in halves lashed together by lines - Concave side faces pier

Other Mooring Equipment

Chafing gear - Canvas or other material placed around mooring lines to prevent wear. Fenders shock-absorbing device used to cushion the shock of contact between two ships or a ship and a pier

Three types of fenders

pneumatic - most frequently used, inflatable rubber barrel lowered from ship to point just clear of water abeam cylindrical - available for immediate use on forecastle/fantail ball - manila ready for placement at any other point of contact between side of ship and pier

Other Mooring Equipment

Camel - A large float or raft used to separate ship from pier face in order to prevent contact between pier and ships side *allow crew to paint sides of ship.

Other Mooring Equipment

Dip the eye - When two mooring lines are placed over the same bollard, the second one is led up through the eye of the first before being put over the bollard. This allows either to be cast off independently.

Other Mooring Equipment

Heaving lines - lightweight lines thrown across ship or pier to act as messenger for mooring line Bolo lines - nylon line with padded lead weight attached at end thrown from ship to ship or ship to pier
reach two times the distance not affected by environmental conditions hazardous to people on pier

Line-throwing gun seldom used as last resort

Deck Related Equipment

Lifelines - Lines erected around the edges of decks, referred to as follows: Top - Lifeline Middle - Housing line Bottom - Foot rope

Snaking - Netting rigged between foot rope and deck for safety of personnel

Deck Related Equipment

Leadline - Marked line used to determine water depth in fathoms. Boatswains chair - Used for sending one person over-the-side
*helmets and life preserver required *hand-tended safety line tended from deck above

Jacobs ladder - Rope ladder w/wood rungs

rigged over the side for temporary use

Deck Related Equipment

Pilots ladder - Flexible portable ladder, usually constructed of metal, sturdier than a Jacobs ladder. Sea ladder - Rigid, portable ladder that may be mounted and secured to the side of the ship. Accommodation ladder - Rigid, inclined ladder rigged to the side of the ship to allow boarding of a moored or anchored ship.

Mooring Lines
Mooring lines are the lines used to secure the ship to a wharf, pier or another ship.

Definition of lines: Breast lines - Run at right angles from the ship, control distance of ship from pier Aft spring lines - Tend aft from ship, control forward movement. Forward spring lines - Tend forward from the ship, control aft movement

Mooring Lines
Numbering of lines: #1 - Bow line #6 - Stern line #2 - Aft bow spring line #3 - Forward bow spring line #4 - Aft quarter spring line #5 - Forward quarter spring line
2 3 4 5

Mooring Line Terminology

Hawser - heavy line over 5 inches in circumference used for towing/mooring Small stuff - fiber line less than 1 3/4 inches in circumference Marline - two-strand, tarred hemp small stuff Destroyers and smaller ships typically use 5-inch or smaller mooring lines Larger ships may use 8-inch or 10-inch mooring lines

Mooring Line Terminology

Bight - a loop of line or chain

Bitter end - free end of a length of line, wire, chain, or cable Eye - closed loop in the end of line

Mooring Line Terminology

Mooring lines vary with size and characteristic of ship Two requirements;
Light as possible for ease of handling Strong enough to take considerable strain during a mooring evolution, heavy weather, etc

Linehandling for Mooring Evolution

Well in advance to linehandling evolution mooring lines faked down fore and aft on deck each near chock through which it will pass end of eye is passed through chock and loop laid back over lifeline Fenders are made ready to go pass heaving lines to pierside linehandlers upon order from conning officer pierside linehandlers will place eye of each mooring line over bollards

Linehandling for Mooring Evolution

Lines handled with linehandlers or capstans at the direction of the conn. Safety Officers will monitor line strain with tattletale cords
light strain - tattletale is not under tension moderate strain - tattletale is under moderate tension heavy strain - tattletale is taught and line is at maximum working load

Linehandling for Mooring Evolution

mooring lines should be secured to bitts with round turns (figure eight commonly used) when ships position is secured, all lines will be doubled up by sending a bight of each line to the pier with heaving lines (dipping the eye) mooring lines will be birdnested after doubling all lines will be frapped rat guards will be placed on all mooring lines

Linehandling for getting underway from pier

Remove rat guards and frapping prior to sea and anchor detail single up all lines with pierside linehandlers when ordered by conn take in all lines when ordered and stow for sea

Mooring Lines
DO NOT MIX MOORING LINE

Never mix lines of different constructions or material . Each type of rope exhibits different elongation characteristics and mixing will result in an unequal load sharing

Mooring Lines
Nylon replaced manila line: Advantages: lasts longer easier to maintain and handle more resistant to weather, grease, oil 2.5 times stronger stretches more Disadvantages: lethal hazard if breaks expensive

Mooring Line Detail

Deck Safety Officer Line Captains Phone Talker Corpsman Gunnersmate Anchor windlass detail (EN and EM)

Standard Commands to Line Handlers

Orders relayed from conning officer to forecastle phone talker orders must be obeyed promptly
Lines referred to as numbers because numbers are shorter and more precise than names

Standard Commands to Line Handlers

Stand by your lines

Send lines over

Take a strain

Slack line
Take line X to capstan/power

Heave around
Avast heaving

Standard Commands to Line Handlers

Hold X

Check X
Surge lines

Single up all lines

Double up all lines

Take in all lines

Cast off all lines

Line Handling Safety Precautions

never stand in bight of line do not try and check line that is running out rapidly by stepping on it standing part is faked down to prevent fouling in case of rapid movement do not stand in direct line of pull of nylon line or when applying heavy loads (snap back zone) Be in proper battle dress at all times while handling lines

Anchoring
ship held into position by anchor on sea bottom understanding for deck machinery and equipment available for evolution

Ground Tackle
Collective term applied to all equipment used in anchoring. Includes:

Anchor chain

Connecting fittings

Anchor windlass

other gear used to

secure/house anchors

Anchoring Terminology
Hawsepipe heavy casting in bow through which anchor chain runs out and where anchor is secured when not in use chain pipe pipe in which chain runs from windlass down to chain locker chain locker - place where anchor chain stowed anchor buoy - small float attached to anchor to mark position
port/red, stbd/green Line adjusted to 2-3 fathoms greater than depth of water

Anchoring Terminology
flukes - dig anchor portion in sea bottom shank - vertical portion connecting flukes and the top ring crown - base of anchor stock - prevents rolling of anchor on bottom

Anchoring Terminology
Anchors
Three types Usually made of cast steel with forged steel fittings Weight from 30-60,000 lbs Edges of flukes are smooth to prevent damage to ships hull

Anchors

Stockless
Navy standard

LWT type
Lightweight type

Mushroom
Permanent Anchorages

Stockless
most common standard bow anchor for most combatant ships ease of stowage and handling, lightweight raises directly into hawsepipe flukes pivot on shank and swing up to 45 degrees on either side to permit anchor to dig into sea bottom

Disadvantage - tendency to disengage flukes by gradually turning over

Mushroom
used to anchor buoys, small boats, and special barges

Lightweight type
two types:
Northhill - small boat anchor Danforth - small boats, stern anchors for landing craft high holding power is comparable to stockless anchor of two times its weight sharpness of flukes enables it to dig in faster and easier reduced weight requires lighter, less costly gear to handle

Disadvantage - difficulty breaking free from bottom at times

 made of die-lock or high strength welded steel stud links

studded - solid piece welded in center to eliminate danger of chain kinking and pounding of links on adjacent links

Anchor Chain

size of link designated by its diameter ranging from 3/4 to 4 3/4 inches chain comes in 15 fathom (90 feet) lengths called shots connected to each other by special detachable links
constructed so they can be disassembled, allowing for shots to be removed/replaced
Destroyer minimum length of 105 fathoms Larger ship 200+ fathoms in length

Chain Measurement
1 shot = 15 fathoms 1 fathom = 6 feet

*chain measured in shots connected with detachable links

Special chain fittings = Detachable link

*C-shaped and connects two shots together

*different colors allow for quick determination of how muc chain is paying out

Anchor Chain Markings

Detachable links and adjacent links are color coded to allow
for quick determination of how much chain is payed out Detachable links: Red, White, Blue, Red . . .

Adjacent links: # white links on either side = # of shot Last link of adjacent links on each side will have # of wire turns indicating the # of the shot

Anchor Chain Markings

Shot # Color of # of White Turns Detachable Adjacent of Link Links Wire

1 (15 fathoms) 2 (30 fathoms) 3 (45 fathoms) 4 (60 fathoms) 5 (75 fathoms) 6 (90 fathoms)

red white blue red white blue

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

Scope of Chain
15 fathoms 1 shot 30 fathoms 2 shots

45 fathoms 3 shots

60 fathoms 4 shots

Scope of Chain
Next to Last Shot all yellow

Last Shot all red

Scope of Chain
3rd shot: W/W/W/B/W/W/W
Second to last shot: entirely yellow Last shot: entirely red

*Warning of approach of bitter end of chain

Chain Stopper
used to hold anchor taut in the hawsepipe and hold anchor when its chain is disconnected consists of turnbuckle inserted in short section of chain with pelican hook attached to one end and shackle to other Two stoppers per chain
housing stopper - stopper nearest hawespipe, bent to anchor chain when anchor is ready for sea riding stopper - stoppers aft of housing stopper

Chain Stopper
Detachable Link Shackle
Pelican Hook

Turnbuckle

Anchor Windlass

Anchor Windlass
machinery used to hoist the anchors
types
horizontal - all machinery and controls located above deck vertical - machinery and controls located both above and below decks Most combatants components capstan - line handling drum above a wildcat on a vertical windlass used for handling lines when mooring wildcat - drum located below capstan containing grooves that engage chain links locking handwheel - used to engage/disengage wildcat to/from capstan friction brake - mechanical brake that holds wildcat Machine controls allow for 5 positions (fast fwd, slow fwd, stop, slow reverse, fast reverse)

Capstan Dead man switch

Brake
Wildcat

Housing Stopper

Riding Stopper

Horizontal Capstan

Anchoring: Personnel involved and their Duties

1. Navigator - during pre-anchorage brief will determine:
a. Identify anchorage and approach track, landmarks b. letting go circle/head and drop bearings c. Depth of water at anchorage d. Range of tide, current, wind direction and speed e. Type of bottom f. Proposed track

2. First Lieutenant - conduct inspection of deck equipment 3. Anchor detail 1st LT or Deck Safety Officer in charge Assisted by ships BOSUN and senior BMs Brief forecastle evolution

Designated BMs and SN at positions Engineman (EN) and electrician (EM) present in anchor windlass to take care of mechanical or electronic failures phone talker on 1JV w/ bridge to relay orders

4. OOD - ensure anchor detail, navigation detail, and helm safety officer on station - keep CO informed
- control approach to anchorage by assisting Conning officer

5. Piloting Teams will be set on Bridge and in CIC

N
TR

Anchorage Plot

HB 004

Tank
100

Stack
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

TR 004

As ship nears anchorage, gradually reduce speed Ex: 1500 yds 10 kts 1000 yds 5 kts 500-300 yds stop Ship moving slowly when anchor dropped

1200 1500

Techniques of Anchoring
Anchor is ready for letting go - report from anchor detail to bridge
Engage wildcat and take strain on chain riding stoppers removed anchor walked out of hawsepipe using wildcat to ensure no hang-ups remove all but 2-3 turns of mousing on locking pin of pelican hook of housing stopper wildcat disconnected and brake set chain locker checked for loose gear

 Standby the anchor - report from bridge to anchor detail

Techniques of Anchoring

- brake partially released two seaman, one with sledge hammer, take station at housing stopper

As ship passes through letting go circle, command Let go the anchoris ordered from the bridge to anchor detail
one seaman will pull pin from housing stoppers pelican hook and remove mousing second seaman will knock bail off pelican hook with sledge hammer and clear brake released causing chain to run out Colors are shifted from mast to flagstaff and jackstaff

Techniques of Anchoring
anchor buoy thrown ovbd/colors shifted
Attached to anchors fluke As buoy floats, its said to be watching

Once anchor hits bottom, noticeable slack in speed of chain

Techniques of Anchoring
Set the anchor - from bridge to anchor detail
brake is set flukes dig into sea bottom motion of ship is stopped, indicating anchor is holding once anchor is set, brake is released and chain is veered (run out) to the desired scope (length)

Pass the stoppers - from bridge to anchor detail

both riding and housing stoppers connected and strain equalized

Techniques of Anchoring
Desired scope of chain - much of the holding power of an anchor derives from the amount of chain on the bottom. - Rule of thumb: 5-7 times the depth of water. - A lesser amount of chain is put out at first to set the anchor. - normally anchor in water < 20 fathoms - > 20 requires walking out anchor

Techniques of Anchoring
Anchor chain reports from anchor detail to bridge
amount of chain veered based on color code read at waters edge, hawsepipe or on deck direction chain tends using clockwise reference system relative to ships head amount of strain on chain (light, mod, heavy) EX: Sixty fathoms on deck, chain tends one oclock, moderate strain

Anchor Watch
Forecastle Watch - BM or SN making anchor reports to bridge watch every 30 minutes to OOD Bridge Watch - QM or OS taking visual fixes every 15 minutes
may assign OOD depending on conditions

CIC - OS taking radar fixes every 15 minutes to compare with bridge visual fixes

Dragging Anchor
consecutive fixes falling outside drag circle chain alternately getting taut and going slack actions:
call CO, CDO, and NAV veer additional chain drop another anchor alert engineroom in case of u/w

Techniques of Weighing Anchor

Ready to heave in - report from anchor detail to bridge
anchor detail manned and ready anchor windlass energized and tested wildcat engaged and take light strain on chain brake is set and all stoppers but one disconnected Grapnel to retrieve buoy and hose to wash sediment off chain and anchor standing by

Techniques of Weighing Anchor

heave around - report from bridge to anchor detail
All stoppers cast off and start to retrieve anchor

Reports from Forecastle Detail

Anchor at short stay = just short of breaking free of sea bottom
Chain is nearly vertical but flukes are not broken out of ground

AT SHORT STAY

Length of chain

Almost Depth = of water

Reports from Forecastle Detail

Anchor up and down - flukes of anchor have broken free but crown still rests on bottom

UP AND DOWN

Reports from Forecastle Detail

Anchor aweigh - anchor is clear of bottom and ship underway

AWEIGH

Reports from Forecastle Detail

Anchor is in sight, clear/fouled anchor
Anchor is first sighted when bringing it in use hose to clean it off

Anchor clear of the water - anchor no longer submerged Anchor is housed - shank of anchor is in hawsepipe and flukes are against ships side

Reports from Forecastle Detail

Anchor is secured for sea - Brake set and stoppers passed. Strain equalized between the stoppers.

Safety Precautions
Ensure anchor detail personnel on forecastle are wearing goggles, hard hats, steel toed shoes, pants tucked into socks Anchor is ready to let go, no one step over chain Personnel stand clear of chain pipe when chain is paying out

Mooring to a Buoy
Advantages:
safer in storm because buoy secured to bottom smaller berths with shorter chain requirements

Disadvantages:
requires putting small boat in water more prep time and personnel needed

Mooring to a Buoy
1. Dip Rope Method - The buoy party attaches the buoy wire, then passes the messenger through the eye of the buoy and attaches it to the dip rope. The dip rope is connected to the end of the anchor chain and by pulling on the messenger, the anchor chain is pulled to the buoy. 2. Trolley Method - A trolley is attached to the buoy wire and used to ease the anchor down to the buoy.

Dip Rope Method

Buoy Wire

61

Dip Rope Method

Buoy Wire

Messenger

61
Dip Rope

Dip Rope Method

Messenger Buoy wire Anchor chain

61

Trolley Method

Trolley

61