Fouling of Anchor with Own cable - Univan

05 th Jan 2011
Hull & Machinery Accident Cases
File No CR- 17- 023 Prep: AKD App: SH
Case Name Fouling of anchor with own cable
Device Name Anchor
Maker Name Unknown Model Unknown Working Hrs. / Unknown
Built
Kind of Ship VLCC Date 22.12.2010 Place Qingdao
Anchorage
DETAILS OF INCIDENT
20-Dec-2010
Vessel carried out anchoring by walking back port anchor on gear at Qingdao Innner
Anchorage with Pilot on board.
1518 LT: Vessel on astern speed of 0.2 Knots commenced to lower Port anchor
under power, under pilot’s supervision with the assistance of a tug made
fast to the stern.
1542 LT: V/l brought up to 7 shackles in water on port anchor.
1600 LT: Pilot disembarked.
The heading was 060 T at the time of anchoring, after anchoring vessel swung
towards starboard, settled at the heading of 090 T.
22-Dec-2010
0915 LT: While heaving up, it was seen that the anchor was not coming up easily.
0918 LT: Pilot boarded vessel for berthing.
Because of strong currents, tug boats were used by the Pilot which helped the
anchor to come off the bottom.
Upon sighting anchor, it was observed that the anchor cable was fouled with the
fluke of anchor and one loop of about 4 cable length (about 60 metres) was hanging
under the fluke.
.
Attached photographs of the fouled anchor chain in the fluke.
IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN
1.Pilot himself went forward to assess the situation and after consultation ,it was
decided to proceed to No.1 safe anchorage.
2.The fouled anchor was let go two times and heaved up at the Anchorage were the
depth of water was 30 Meters.
3. The foul was cleared and anchor was housed in and secured.
Vessel re-anchored using the starboard anchor by walking back on gear up to seven
shackles in water.
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PRESUMED CAUSE OF INCIDENT
05 th Jan 2011
Due to strong tidal currents in the anchorage area, while anchoring ,it was observed
that the vessel yawed around the anchor three times.This could have resulted in the
fourth shackle of the cable getting fouled in between the flukes and the shank of the
Port Anchor.
LESSONS LEARNED / PREVENTIVE ACTIONS
1. Extreme caution and care required during anchoring operation of large vessels is
emphasized again.
2. Better assessment of prevailing conditions required (in this case currents resulting
in yawing of vessel).
3. Apart from navigational publications, maximum information for local conditions to
be obtained from port authorities through the agents.
FOULED PORT ANCHOR CHAIN
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