Which circle has a radius equal to the vessel length added to the length of anchor chain?

Which circle has a radius equal to the vessel length added to the length of anchor chain?

• A. letting-go circle
• B. swing circle
• C. drag circle
• D. cockle

Answer: (B)

Swing circle describes the area a anchored vessel can swing around the anchor as wind or current pushes it, with the radius equal to the length of the anchor rode plus the vessel’s length. The anchor rope (rode) keeps the bow attached to the anchor, and as the ship swings, the hull can extend farther from the anchor by its own length. So the farthest reach of the vessel from the anchor is roughly the rode length plus the ship’s length, which is why the radius is that sum. For example, with 100 meters of chain and a 25-meter vessel, the swing circle radius would be about 125 meters. This circle helps plan safe clearance and rode length to avoid collisions or chain strain. The other terms relate to different anchoring considerations and don’t define this maximum swing extent.

Swing circle describes the area a anchored vessel can swing around the anchor as wind or current pushes it, with the radius equal to the length of the anchor rode plus the vessel’s length. The anchor rope (rode) keeps the bow attached to the anchor, and as the ship swings, the hull can extend farther from the anchor by its own length. So the farthest reach of the vessel from the anchor is roughly the rode length plus the ship’s length, which is why the radius is that sum. For example, with 100 meters of chain and a 25-meter vessel, the swing circle radius would be about 125 meters. This circle helps plan safe clearance and rode length to avoid collisions or chain strain. The other terms relate to different anchoring considerations and don’t define this maximum swing extent.