Pre-arrival check list "b" (Anchoring Plan)

VESSEL:		ANCHORAGE:	DATE / TIME:
1.	In preparing the anchoring plan, have the following factors been taken into consideration?
	Available port information
	Advice/recommendations in sailing directions (pilot book)
	Latest weather reports
	Tide and current charts for port/adjacent areas
	Calculated/known minimum and maximum depths of water in anchorage approaches and at the anchorage
	Any restrictions on draught, trim, speed, entry times etc
2.	Is it necessary to rearrange cargo/ballast:1
3.	Are all relevant charts and nautical publications corrected up to date and courses laid off?
4.	Have the latest navigational messages for the area been received?
5.	Has ETA been sent with all relevant information required by local regulations (e.g. details of dangerous/hazardous goods carried)?
6.	Has all navigational equipment including steering gear been tested and stabilisers housed?
7.	Has the following equipment been checked?
	Course and engine movement recorder
	Synchronisation of clocks
	Echo sounder
	Speed log
	Internal communications equipment
	Signalling equipment, including flags/lights
	Deck lighting
	Windlass
	Test of main engine ahead and astern
	Test of stand by auxiliaries
8.	If appropriate, have the checks been carried out on the pilot/embarkation card
9.	Has manual steering been engaged in sufficient time for the helmsman to become accustomed before maneuvering commences?
10.	Has the crew been advised of the time of "stand-by" for anchoring 9
11.	Have VHP channels for the various services (e.g. VTS, Port Control) been noted and a radio check carried out?
12.	Is the following anchoring information available?
	Anchorage area / Anchor berth / Anchor position
	Nature of seabed
	Which anchor(s) to drop
	Scope of cable required
	Available swinging room
	Conspicuous objects

Exercise 15: Prepare 5 questions according to the model(s)

Did you check the available swinging room?

Has the deck lighting been checked?

How long ago / How recent / When has the deck lighting been checked?

Has the windlass been prepared?

What is the VHP traffic channel for the VTS at the anchorage?

Exercise 16: Speech drills : study the models and then do the exercises in pairs.

Example : Checking (Questioning the actions of the OOW):

Question: Did you see the latest weather report ?

Answer variant 1: Yes, I did. It's still on the NAVTEX receiver.

Answer variant 2: No, I didn't. I will try to get that information now from the NAVTEX receiver.

Task :Give answers according to the model

1. Did you look up the tide tables for the anchorage? (Yes, ECDIS screen / No, Tide Tables book)

2. Did you find more information about the anchorage? (Yes, Pilot book / No, Guide to Port Entry)

3. Did you prepare both the small scale and large scale charts? (Yes, Chart table / No, Catalogue)

4. Did you test the 2^nd pump of the steering engine? (Yes, 10 minutes ago /No, do it now)

5. Did you switch on and check the Echo Sounder? (Yes, working / No, switched on, but not checked)

Example : Checking (Questioning the preparations made on the forecastle and in the engine room):

Question: Has the windlass been checked and tested?

Answer variant 1: Yes, it has. It is o.k.

Answer variant 2: No, it hasn't. I will ask the boatswain to go and check and test it.

Task : Give answers according to the model

1. Have the auxiliaries been tested? Yes, on the board / No, being tested now.

2. Has the crew been informed about the time of "stand-by" for anchoring? Yes / No, within 5 minutes

3. Has the anchor gear been prepared? Yes, boatswain reported already / No, no news from the boatswain.

4. Has the VTS been contacted? Yes, permission to anchor obtained / No, contact when crossing reporting line.

5. Has the engine been prepared for maneuvering? Yes, engine in maneuvering mode / No, engineers are switching over to Gasoil fuel now.

Example : Questioning & answering (VHF communication between bridge and forecastle)

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: What is the situation? Is the port anchor prepared to let go?

A. Bridge this is forecastle: Everything is ready. The port anchor is lowered and ready for letting go.

Task : Create answers using SMCP

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: What is the situation? How many shackles are in the water? (3 shackles)

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: What is the situation? How is the cable leading? (leading ahead)

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: How is the situation? Is there a lot of weight on the cable? (medium weight)

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: How is the situation? Is the anchor holding? (yes, cable is tight and coming slack)

Q. Forecastle this is bridge: How is the situation? Did you hoist the anchor ball? (anchor ball is being hoisted)

Example : Reporting & instructing (VHF communication between bridge and forecastle)

R. Bridge this is forecastle: We are stand-by for lowering the anchor.

I. Forecastle this is bridge: You can lower the anchor. Report when the anchor is ready for letting go.

Task : Create instructions using SMCP

Bridge this is forecastle: The anchor is ready for letting go. (Let go, report when 2 shackles in the water)

Bridge this is forecastle: 2 shackles in the water, now. (Pay out 3 more shackles, report every shackle and how the chain is leading.)

Bridge this is forecastle: 5 shackles in the water now, the chain is leading abeam. (Secure the break; apply the chain stopper, report when the anchor is holding)

Bridge this is forecastle: The anchor is holding, (hoist the anchor ball, report when anchoring operations on the forecastle are finished)

Bridge this is forecastle: Anchor ball is hoisted. Anchor chain is slack and leading ahead. (Finished with anchoring, report to the bridge in one hour to check the anchor gear again.)

Exercise 17 : Take one of the 3 following situations and play out a dialogue between the bridge and forward station. Study the communication objectives and use the given words. Use SMCP.

1. The starboard anchor chain is leading round the bow over the bulb

Communicative aims in steps: the bridge investigates the situation - the forecastle reports, the bridge orders to slack away the chain and informs about its intention to maneuver - the forecastle reports and informs about its actions.

SMCP: the cable is leading round the bow, the cable is leading ahead, the cable is tight, the cable is slack, the cable is coming tight/slack, heave up the cable, stop heaving, slack out the cable. Words : to touch, to chafe against, to be stuck, to swing the bow to port, to stop the bow, to heave in anchor chain.

2. The anchor is dragging

Communicative aims in steps: the forecastle reports - the bridge investigates the situation - the forecastle reports - the bridge orders to veer the chain - the forecastle reports and informs about its actions.

SMCP: is the anchor holding, the anchor is not holding, the cable is leading ahead, the cable is tight, slack out the cable, is the anchor holding, the anchor is holding

Words: to veer the cable, shackle, to run the engine ahead, to run the engine astern, to secure the break, to apply the stopper, to hoist the anchor ball

3. The anchor chain is stuck in the chain locker, because the chain fouled

Communicative aims in steps : the forecastle reports - the bridge investigates the situation - the forecastle reports - the bridge investigates how long it takes to solve the problem - intention : to drift before proceeding to anchor position - forecastle reports - bridge instructs to measure oxygen before entering enclosed space - forecastle reports and requests - bridge orders and supports - forecastle reports.

Words: knotted anchor chain, unable to heave up through the spurling pipe, open the chain locker, send a man, might take 15 minutes, oxygen meter, to use a hook, to clear the anchor chain, to close the locker, to be ready to drop anchor.

Exercise 19 : Troubleshooting - Questions and Answers when facing problems.

In case of trouble communication is very important. Questions are used to investigate. Imperatives are used in commands and requests. Suppositional constructions with the verb "should" are used in warnings and advice. Future tenses are used to indicate intentions. Auxiliary verbs to be and to have are used to report situations and actions.

Task 1: Read the following dialogue and pay attention to the use of grammar to mark communicative aims. Note: F=Forecastle, B=Bridge

A Foul Anchor

F: Bridge this is forecastle. We have a problem. The anchor is foul.

B: Stop heaving, please. (Order, Request) What is it fouled with? (Investigation)

F: The anchor is foul of a steel wire. (Report situation) We have stopped heaving. (Report action)

B: Do you think you can rig a Jacob's ladder and send one of the men down onto the anchor? (Investigation)

F: If you made a lee for us, we could do that. (Possibility, Ability) One of the AB's is going to get a Jacob's ladder now. (Report situation)

B: You should also prepare a strong rope or a sling to create a bight to keep the steel wire. Then you can clear the anchor, by simply lowering it. (Advice, Ability) Please, keep an eye on the anchor and the wire, during the maneuver and report immediately if something goes wrong. (Request, Order).

F: OK. We'll prepare a rope and keep an eye on the anchor. (Intention)

B: We are going to start swinging now. (Intention)

Task 2: Read and analyze the continuation of the dialogue. Tag the sentences as: Investigation, Request, Advice, Warning, Command, Intention, Report.

Bridge this is forecastle: The anchor is almost pulled against the hull. Please, keep the bow more to port.

B: Understood, we'll give the bow thruster a touch to port. Do you have enough lee now?

F: Positive, we have enough lee. The Jacob's ladder and a sling are rigged. We have one AB with a safety harness stand-by.

B: We'll keep the ship steady in this position. You can send the AB down, but you should not start heaving on that sling before the AB is on deck. Did you copy that?

F: Understood, no heaving before the AB is back on deck. OK.

B: Thank you. Also report when the AB is back on deck, please.

Task 3: Continue the dialogue by putting the sentences in a logical order.

Bridge this is forecastle: The AB is back on deck. We have removed the Jacob's ladder and we are ready to start lowering the anchor.

B: Understood. You can start lowering the anchor. Report when the anchor is clear. We intend to run the bow thruster slowly to port and then you can heave up the anchor until it has passed clear of the steel wire.

F: The anchor is home. We start securing everything forward

B: Correct, report when you have cut the sling, then we can stop the bow.

F: The anchor is clear. Should we cut the sling?

F: We have cut the sling and the steel wire has disappeared.

B: After you have heaved up the anchor clear of the steel wire, you can cut the sling.

F: Understood, first heaving then cutting.

B: Thank you for the good news. You can heave the anchor home and secure everything.

Prepare presentations on

1. Anchorage selection

2. Procedure of anchoring

3. Anchor gear

4. Duties of the watch officer when the ship is lying at anchor

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