SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN

Anchoring Terms

SCOPE:  The ratio of anchor chain let out and the depth of the water.  Normally the amount of chain let out is 5-7 times the water depth. 

VEERING the anchor: Paying out more chain to increase the scope.

ANCHOR AWEIGH: When the anchors fluke just clears the bottom

SHOT of chain:  A shot is made up of 15 fathoms of chain (90 feet).  The O'BRIEN is rigged with 10 shots on each anchor.  Each shot is marked at the detachable link so that the windlass operator knows how much chain is out.

CHAIN markings:   

One shot: one twist of wire on the first stud link on either side of the detachable link. These stud links are also painted white.

Two shots: two twists of wire on the second link on either side of the detachable link.  Two links on either side of the detachable link are painted white.

Three shots: three twists of wire on the third link on either side of the detachable link.  Three links on either side of the detachable link painted white.

And so on.............

DETACHABLE Link: A link that comes apart and which is normally used to connect shots of chain. (also called a patent link). Regular links are called stud links.

FOG SIGNALS while at anchor:  since the O'BRIEN is over 100 meters long, the fog signal consists of a "rapid ringing of the ship's forward bell for five seconds, followed by a rapid clanging of a gong on the stern for five seconds. This is done EVERY MINUTE.