How to Anchor a ship - Step by step procedure for dropping anchor at night
19 Video Views·Apr 24, 2026
This is a video detailing the procedure to drop anchor. Its detailed with emphasis given to major components of windlass and associated anchor terms.
We had anchored in a current of 3-4 knots, and since the process was done at night, there is an appreciable quality issue wrt chain leading.
I will explain the chain leading and reporting in a later video.
Hope you will find this video useful for your future career.
Good day, this is the forward windless and mooring arrangements of our ship.
The yellow color is the winch control lever.
Then comes the gypsy. You can see the gypsy is having the anchor chain.
And down below you can see the swirling pipe.
This is the anchor gear assembly and this is the handle for the brake.
These are all the forward mooring winches with its ropes.
And to the left you can see the warping drum.
Next comes the hauser pipe with its cover.
And this is the bow stopper. You can see the bow stopper has been secured to our chain.
This is the port anchor that is stored and secured.
We will be letting go this anchor at night.
The first step is to open the bow stopper.
That sudden jerk is the weight of the anchor getting transferred from the brakes onto the gear.
As you can see the hauser pipe cover is opened.
Next step will be to lower the anchor under power.
Normally it is lowered to around 1 meter above water level.
It is done so that the anchor won't get damaged once it strikes the water.
The OW is satisfied.
The anchor is 1 meter above water level.
The anchor is transferred from the gear onto the brakes for letting go.
Cap 3 on deck.
The next step is to report the anchor chain leading position.
Cap 3 on deck. 10 o'clock. Medium stay.
3 on deck. 11 o'clock. Medium stay.
Now the anchor is at 3 shackles on deck.
Now we have to find out if the anchor has been brought up.
It is very easy.
When the anchor is brought up she will go from a medium stay to a short stay and go back to medium stay.
In this present situation the current is around 4 knots so we won't be having a short stay.
As you watch closely you will be seeing that the anchor stay is slowly coming down.
It is not so long as before.
In a few minutes she will be going back to a much more longer medium stay.
As you can see she has gone back to a longer medium stay.
That means our anchor has been brought up.
We will report it to bridge.
Remember the anchor is still on the brakes so I will be closing the bow stopper so the weight is transferred onto the bow stopper.
Anchor brought up.
Boss anchor brought up.
Coffin cap forward dismiss.
Before departing we should make sure the hose pipe cover is covered.
Bow stopper is closed and the anchor is off gear and in the brakes for emergency let go.
Thank you.