Anchor Cables

[j.sabourn]

Know what you mean Ted. The term chain locker is only good for a Pub of which I used to know a few. The average tramp ship as I can recall had 7 or 8 shackles and as you say the lockers were supposed to be self stowing. I can imagine one or two things either they were a design fault or were built for less chain. Always on the last couple of shackles even on the most modern ships you had to stand there and try and make the chain land in any available space in the locker. On offshore vessels some have special huge lockers to carry Rig chain which is really heavy stuff, however never saw any problems stowing such. The ships anchor chain was a different story. Cheers John Sabourn

[Capt Bill Davies]

I would agree with the post Nos 8 & 9 from JS & JA. I like the 'question mark' ref which fits well.

Losing ones anchor due 'over use' in certain ports was not uncommon. Whilst their recovery was expensive it was nothing compared to the damage sustained in the chain locker and structure iwo. To reduce this problem a very simple solution was devised. The inboard length was not connected to the chain locker in the usual and expected manner. The end link was connected by lashing wire which parted when too much weight was exerted.

Brgds

Bill


PS: Ted, please do not demean yourself. There is no such thing as a 'mere AB'. It was a highly skilled job which, I think you know.

[j.sabourn]

I had to let slip and anchor with about 10 shackles off the west coast of Australia. Due to complete collapse of windlass. Before slipping I put a marker buoy on to know where it was.Came back into Dampier hired a big Grapnel, went back out, after the windlass was fixed, unfortuanetly the buoy was no longer there but had a good idea where the anchor was. Grapelled and got the chain, pulled the whole lot onboard the after deck with the big towing winch, went back into sheltered waters and replaced. Was very lucky. The hardest and longest job was getting the chain from aft back onto the windlass. As time is money and everyone screaming for the ship back on station. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Ivan Cloherty]

I was just a mere Able Seaman, Way out of my depth i was one of the idiot,s that used to get the job of storing the bloody cable with those idiotic cable hooks. I have lost shoes, boots, cable hooks, alway,s ended up full of shi* as it was washed down as it was brought aboard on the windless. i remember counting the white link,s if my memory serves me right they were every 15 fathom.s {I stand corrected} But one thing i did make sure of when the Chippy/ Bosun let the lot go i was alway,s well clear of the chain ? You never new what would come flying out {Self stoering cone chain locker,s i never come across many at sea} I must have drew the short straw Regards Skipper Terry.

Agree with Cap'n Bill, there are no mere AB's Terry without AB's who was going to train the future deckies and future officers in basic but essential seamanship. Good bosuns and good ABs' are the essential part of any ship. Agree with your comments on chain lockers, as have been down a few, even as second mate and my one thought was what happens if the silly buggers decide to let go again whilst I'm down here. One result would be a red foc'le deck and bulwarks

[Evan Lewis]

A Large amount of the Control. depended o the Nous .of the Carpenter. Of whom. many exercised much patience ,knowledge , in interpretation , of the anxious commands ?
required to enable a succesful conclusion.

[j.sabourn]

Ivan remember overhearing one AB to another " What we want is more AB"s not B.A."s", Whether he was referrring to Bachelor of Arts or Bloody A... holes , I leave it to you to decide. Cheers John Sabourn

[John Arton]

J.S. thread about recovering an anchor reminded me of an incident that occurred off Richards Bay back in 78.
We arrived there on a Cape Sized bulker to load coal, to find the port closed due to extremley bad weather. We spent the next two days steaming up and down off the port waiting for the weather to calm down. All this time there was a similar sized bulker anchored off the port and he refused to leave even though he was being tossed around like anything and had to have his engines running all the time, he was worried that if he left the anchorage he would loose his turn on the berth despite the port telling him it would not happen.
Eventaully the weather calmed down and he was called in. It was taking an age to get his anchor up and when we looked through the binoculars at her we could see that the gypsy wheel of his windlass was completley destroyed it having shattered due to the strain put on it whilst he was riding out the storm. The crew were actually hauling in the anchor and cable by using the deck mooring winch and overhauling the cable and laying it out on the main deck. He eventually had to slip his anchor and cable once he managed to get a joining shackle onto deck as otherwise he would have lost his turn and the port told him they may not allow him in with such damage to his windlass. After a bit of toing and froing he was eventually taken in but had to have extra tugs and arrange for shore moorings.
The best bit was when the japanese captain got onto his agents asking him if he could get some spares for his windlass. No problem replied the agent, thinking it was probably brake linings or similar.
The Japanese skipper then gave him the make, model serial number etc. of his windlass and requested for delivery tomorrow.
1 Gypsy wheel complet
1 drive shaft complete
2 sets bearings complete.
He was quite annoyed when the agent told him these were not available as off the shelf items and he would have to send to Japan for them. The Japanese skipper got even more huffed when he was told this. He eventually finished loading, went out to the anchorage again where he had hire a crane barge to recover the slipped anchor and cable, put it on his deck and off he sailed for his discharge port where hopefully his new bits for his windlass would be waiting for him.
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

John, re. your story about the japanese skipper. I think at times we have thought we have been left in the lurch re the working of the ship, that is I suppose why seafarers are more reliant on themselves and finish up doing the job themselves. I felt let down when I first came out here but thinking about it later it was norm for the course. We arrived here late Oct.91 the beginning of December I was employed on a Swire Anchor Handler on bareboat charter to a Fremantle owner. I joined her in Dampier and was running down to the Cambridge Gulf servicing a Japanese rig. I really had no idea of the customs of the port and indeed the area I was working in so had to rely on other people who were very good. The first time back into Dampier there was a Cyclone warning out and the harbour master wanted the port cleared. I was busy pumping cement, barytes and other things ashore as was coming off charter.Suddenly I am the only ship left, After letting go myself no linesmen, I went around to the cyclone buoys, they were all taken. I thought about making a run for it out to sea, then thought about the fuel situation. I decided to anchor behind one of the islands and put out about 9 shackles and kept the engines on stand by. The cyclone passed about 5 miles away so apart from the very strong winds we rode it out ok with the engines going ahead. The only damage that we sustained was we lost our canvas awnings. The ships that did run were about a week before they got back as the cyclone chased them down the coast. One of these was the same company, before he left I asked him what was the normal practice of the port in this situation. His reply was you can do what you want mate I"m getting the hell out of here. I never again asked anyone for advice after that, and learnt the hard way as you do out here. I have seen many more cyclones since then and never took anyones advice on as used my own gut feelings on such. Cheers John Sabourn

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan remember overhearing one AB to another " What we want is more AB"s not B.A."s", Whether he was referrring to Bachelor of Arts or Bloody A... holes , I leave it to you to decide. Cheers John Sabourn

John, there were no Bachelors of Arts when I was at sea, (anyway never came across any) so it must have been the other. So many Bachelors of Arts now they are like confetti, once used only good for sweeping up.

[Red Lead Ted]

Agree with Cap'n Bill, there are no mere AB's Terry without AB's who was going to train the future deckies and future officers in basic but essential seamanship. Good bosuns and good ABs' are the essential part of any ship. Agree with your comments on chain lockers, as have been down a few, even as second mate and my one thought was what happens if the silly buggers decide to let go again whilst I'm down here. One result would be a red foc'le deck and bulwarks

I couldnt agree more with your fear of being down them locker,s and anyone who say,s it never crossed there mind was either an idiot or a pork pie,er. Especially if it was a steam windlass it did cross my mind god help me if whoever is working the winch isn,t at the ready to screw down the brake in time if anything went wrong. The other fear of course i was aboard an old Hains steamer tramping around the Gulf of Mexico, The ships gear was lets say well past its sell by date. Another job i alway,s had reservations on was the old monkey face lifting gear for the sticks, Surley someone witnessed one of those ratchet bars being dropped and falling to bits. It got to the point you were scared to touch them with a chipping hammer And i {NEVER} Trusted anything aloft alway,s a lizard lashed by myself if aloft and as for a hook chair i would leave them to the deck boy,s and ordinary seaman. Regards Terry.