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Types of Anchors for Ships

Types of Anchors
  1. Ordinary anchors
  2. High holding power (HHP) anchors
  3. Super high holding power (SHHP) anchors

Ordinary anchors
  • Ordinary anchors of “stockless” type are to be generally adopted and they are to be of the appropriate design in compliance with the rules or practice of each individual Society.
  • The mass of the heads of stockless anchors including pins and fittings are not to be less than 60% of the total mass of the anchor.
  • The mass, per anchor, of bower anchor, is required for anchors of equal mass.
  • The mass of individual anchor may vary to 7% of the Table mass provided that the total mass of anchors is not less than that required for anchors of equal mass.


High holding power (HHP) anchors
  • A “high holding power” anchor is to be suitable for ship’s use and is not to require prior adjustment or special placement on the sea bottom.
  • When special type of anchors designated “high holding power anchor” of proven superior holding ability are used as bower anchors, the mass of each anchor may be 75% of the mass required for ordinary stockless bower anchors.
  • For approval and/or acceptance as a HHP anchor satisfactory tests are to be made on various types of bottom, and the anchor is to have a holding power at least twice than of an ordinary stockless anchor of the same weight. 
  • Full-scale tests are to be carried out at sea on various types of bottom and to be applied to anchors the weights of which are, as far as possible, representative of the full range of sizes proposed; for a definite group of the range the two anchors selected for testing (ordinary stockless anchors and HHP anchors) should be of approximately the same weight, and should be tested in association with the size of chain cable appropriate to this weight.
  • The length of cable with each anchor should be such that the pull on the shank remains practically horizontal, for this purpose a scope of 10 is considered normal but a scope of not less than 6 may be accepted. 
  • Scope is defined as the ratio of length of cable to depth of water. 
  • Three tests shall be taken for each anchor and nature of bed. The pull shall be measured by dynamometer. The stability of the anchor and ease of breaking out should be noted where possible. Tests are normally to be carried out from a tug but alternatively shore based tests may be accepted.
  • Measurements of pull based on RPM/bollard pull curve of tug may be accepted instead of dynamometer readings. 
  • Tests in comparison with a previously approved HHP anchor may be accepted as a basis for approval.
  • For approval and/or acceptance of high holding power anchors of the whole range of weight, tests should be carried out on at least two - sizes of anchors and the weight of the maximum size to be approved could be accepted up to 10 times the weight of large size tested.


Super high holding power (SHHP) anchors 
  • A super high holding power anchor is an anchor with a holding power of at least four times that of an ordinary stockless anchor of the same mass. 
  • A super high holding power anchor is suitable for restricted service vessels use and does not require prior adjustment or special placement on the seabed.
  • The use of SHHP anchors is limited to restricted service vessels as defined by the individual classification society.
  • The SHHP anchor mass should generally not exceed 1500kg.
  • The unified requirement for the design of SHHP anchors applies down to EN ≥ 205. For EN < 205 the design criteria for SHHP anchors apply to the anchor mass for ordinary stockless anchors.
  • A super high holding power anchor is to be suitable for vessels in restricted service and is not to require prior adjustment or special placement on the seabed.
  • When super high holding power anchors of the proven holding power are used as bower anchors, the mass of each such anchor may be reduced to not less than 50% of the mass required for ordinary stockless anchors.
  • For approval and/or acceptance as a SHHP anchor satisfactory full-scale tests are to be made confirming that the anchor has a holding power of at least four times that of an ordinary stockless anchor or at least two times that of a previously approved HHP anchor, of the same mass.
  • The tests are also to verify that the anchor withstands the test without permanent deformation.
  • The full scale tests as required are to be carried out at sea on three types of bottom; normally, soft mud or silt, sand or gravel and hard clay or similar compounded material. The tests are to be applied to anchors of mass which are as far as possible representative of the full range of sizes proposed. 
  • For a definite group within the range, the two anchors selected for testing (ordinary stockless and SHHP anchors) should be approximately the same mass and should be tested in association with the size of chain required for the anchor mass and anchor type. Where an ordinary stockless anchor is not available, a previously approved HHP anchor may be used in its place. 
  • The length of the cable with each anchor should be such that the pull on the shank remains practically horizontal. For this purpose, a scope of 10 is considered normal.
  • Three tests shall be taken for each anchor and each type of bottom. The pull shall be measured by a dynamometer. The stability of the anchor and ease of breaking out should be noted where possible. 
  • Tests are to be carried out from a tug but alternatively, shore-based tests may be accepted. Measurements of pull, based on the RPM/bollard pull curve of the tug may be accepted as an alternative to a dynamometer. 
  • Tests in comparison with a previously approved SHHP anchor may be also accepted as a basis for approval.
  • If approval is sought for a range of anchor sizes, then at least three anchor sizes are to be tested, indicative of the bottom, middle and top of the mass range.
  • The holding power test load is not to exceed the proof load of the anchor.

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