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PRECISION ANCHORING

Determining a Suitable
Anchorage

Sufficient navaids
Safety from seas and weather
Bottom characteristics w/o obstructions or hazards
Sufficient Depth
Proximity to boat landings
Anticipated direction of wind and seas
Many charts have pre-determined anchorage
locations, usually a small circle with a letter or
number designation.

Sources of Information
Chart
Publications, to include:
Coast Pilots
Sailing Directions
Fleet Guides (ports most frequented by USN ships)

Word-of-mouth
Pass down files

Terminology
Approach Track - Final leg that the ship must
follow to arrive at the center of the anchorage.
Usually 1000-2000 yards in length.
Head Bearing - The bearing to a prominent navaid
which is on the same bearing as the approach
track. Bearing to the navaid should remain
constant as the ship approaches the anchorage.

Terminology
Letting-go (or Drop) Circle - A circle drawn around
the anchorage with a radius equal to the distance
from the hawespipe to the pelorus.
Letting-go (Drop) Bearing - A bearing that marks the
anchor drop point. A bearing that intersects the
head bearing, letting-go circle and a prominent
navaid close to either beam.

Terminology
Range Arcs Pre-plotted arcs, centered on the
anchorage, drawn along the approach track.
Drawn in 100 yard increments measured
outward from the Letting-Go Circle out to 1000
yards of the approach, and at the 1200 yd,
1500 yd and 2000 yd marks.

10

20

8
10
12

20

14 H

16

20

T
0
04

Kentmore marina

10

G C 3 Piles
Dredged 10 ft 1996
R
N
4
R2
4

G1

16
14

16
20

LG
B

R12
10
Fl R 2.5s

40
T

Hobbs
Rks
6

14

Approach track
C-040T
16

14
16

20

Hobbs Lt Fl 2s 70ft 15M

14
1

16

12

8
14

Red 2

4

Pepe Pt
Fl 6s 54ft 7M

Pepe
Reef

Uncov.
1m

R14
Fl R 5s

16 Plot
Anchorage

12
14
16

10
8

Terminology
Swing Circle - A circle drawn from the actual anchor
location with a radius equal to the length of anchor chain
veered plus the total length of the ship.
Drag Circle - A circle drawn from the actual anchor
location with a radius equal to the length of the anchor
chain veered plus the distance from the hawespipe to the
pelorus.

130 yds

Drag / Swing Circle

Drag Circle

Swing Circle

300 yards

Plotting a Precision
Anchorage
Preparation (Pre-Sail):
Step 1 Plot an estimated Swing Circle to ensure the area
around the anchorage is safe.
Step 2 Select and plot an approach track based on
available head bearing, taking into account wind and
current.
Step 3 Obtain the advance and transfer for the turn onto
the approach track, find the turn point, and plot turn
bearing.

Plotting a Precision
Anchorage
Preparation (Pre-Sail):
Step 4 Measure and plot the radius of the letting-go
circle over the center of the anchorage
Step 5 - Scribe and label the range arcs on the chart.
Step 6 - Select a suitable navaid to use as a Letting-go
bearing, and plot the LGB on the chart.

Anchorage Plot

HB 004

TR

Tank

TB

30
5

TR 004

100

LGB 096
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000

1200
1400

64
0
TR

Stack

Plotting a Precision
Anchorage
Executing the Anchorage: Goal of Navigator is to
keep the ship as close to the approach track as
possible, and have all headway off when the
hawespipe is over the center of the anchorage.
Nav team takes constant fixes and make course and
speed recommendations throughout the evolution.
Step 1 With 1000 yards to go, slow to 5 kts.
Step 2 At 300 yards, stop engines. As ship
approaches drop circle, back down engines.

Plotting a Precision
Anchorage
Executing the Anchorage:
Step 3 Once the drop bearing is reached, the word Let go the
anchor is passed down to the anchor detail, and the anchor is
dropped.
Step 4 As the anchor is Let go, take a fix
noting the ships heading.
Step 5 - Once the fix is plotted, the anchor position is plotted
(measured from the fix in the direction of the ships head at a
distance equal to the distance between the hawespipe and the
pelorus.

Plotting a Precision
Anchorage
At Anchor (Post-Sail):
Step 1 Anchor chain is veered out until a length of chain of 5 to
7 times the depth of the water is reached.
Step 2 Plot the swing and drag circles around the anchors actual
position.
***All subsequent fixes should fall within the drag circle. If not,
the anchor is dragging.
Step 3 Navigator will select 3 nav aids to use for visual fixes.
Cover chart with acetate.
Step 4 Set the Anchor watch who takes fixes every 15 minutes to
ensure anchor is holding.

Review
What is advance?
What is transfer?
What is the difference between the
Drag circle and the Swing Circle?
How much anchor chain is veered out?

QUESTIONS???

Homework
Read Hobbs Ch 15
Workbook
Ch 14: 3-6, 8, 14