How often shall anchors be lowered until two shots remain on board to ensure they are free for running?

How often shall anchors be lowered until two shots remain on board to ensure they are free for running?

• A. Daily
• B. Semiannually
• C. Quarterly
• D. Annually

Answer: (B)

Regular anchor gear maintenance is about ensuring the chain and related hardware will deploy cleanly when needed. Lowering the anchor until two lengths of chain remain on board is a practical check that the chain will pay out freely and that there’s no snag in the hawsepipe or the windlass. Doing this test about twice a year keeps wear, corrosion, and fouling from going unnoticed while balancing practicality with safety. In harsher environments you might inspect more often, but the standard interval is semiannual.

Regular anchor gear maintenance is about ensuring the chain and related hardware will deploy cleanly when needed. Lowering the anchor until two lengths of chain remain on board is a practical check that the chain will pay out freely and that there’s no snag in the hawsepipe or the windlass. Doing this test about twice a year keeps wear, corrosion, and fouling from going unnoticed while balancing practicality with safety. In harsher environments you might inspect more often, but the standard interval is semiannual.