Question 3995 Deck General

70% to pass

You are the Master of a single-screw vessel. You are docking at a port which has no tugs available. You decide to drop the offshore anchor to help in docking. The amount of chain you should pay out is _______________.

A 5 to 7 times the depth of the water
B equal to the depth of the water
C 1 1/2 to 2 times the depth of the water
D you should NEVER use the anchor to help in docking
AI Explanation

The correct answer is C) 1 1/2 to 2 times the depth of the water. When docking a single-screw vessel without the assistance of tugs, the offshore anchor can be used to help control the vessel's movement and position. The general rule is to pay out 1 1/2 to 2 times the depth of the water as anchor chain. This allows the anchor to grip the seafloor and provide the necessary holding power to aid in the docking maneuver. Option A is too much chain, which could cause the anchor to drag or the vessel to swing excessively. Option B is not enough chain to provide the required holding power. Option D is incorrect, as using the anchor can be a helpful technique when docking a vessel without tug assistance, as long as the proper amount of chain is paid out.

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