Is is true large ocean going ships are being bulit without anchor?

Question

Are large ships such as a container ship being built with stabilizer fins and thrusters to hover in anchorages instead of the anchor and chain? I can't remember the name of the show but it showed the CMA-CGM Hugo, A very large containership and if im correct the guy mentioned that the ship was built with stabilizers and thrusters instead of an anchor and chain. Does anyone know if this is true? And if so were can I find an article or pictures of ships that currently have such systems.

Answer 1

Tiki Tom has it right....dynamic positioning is the system where a computer receives Global Positioning System ( GPS) signals that tells it where the ship is...accurate to 30 feet! The computer can then play around with engines, stabilizers and thrusters to keep a ship ( in reasonably calm conditions0 EXACTLY where you want it.

This DOES NOT under law ( Safety of Life at Sea Convention, or SOLAS) replace the need for 2 ..at least...anchors.

Now, an anchor on a 600,000 ton tanker isn't going to to doodly, as we saw with the Amoco Cadiz, but you still have to carry them......

Answer 2

Well, I haven't heard of ships being built with out anchors as they are used for anchoring a ship, or stopping a ship in an emergency (if a ship loses the plant and is in a river or bay the capt Will lower the anchor to slow the ship and eventually stop her). Anchors are also used to moor vessels, if alongside a berth and barges are being used in between the ship and the berth, the ship tugs in the anchor a bit, pulls this ship off the berth and a tug and slide a barge in or out.

It would be a waste of fuel to use thrusters and 'stabilizers' (?) to hold a ship in position at an anchorage for days on end. Typically a ship will drop anchor and then run on generators, conserving fuel oil.

Now, container ships in generally have a pretty tight schedule and don't normally anchor on arrival of a port waiting for the berth to free - up, they don't normally have to wait at anchor awaiting orders either. A tanker or bulk carrier will go to anchor to clean tanks/holds await orders for the next cargo or for the berth congestion to clear up before proceeding to the berth.

Don't believe everything you hear on TV or everything you read on the Internet!

good luck!

Answer 3

Cruise ships are no longer permitted to drop anchor near Georgetown in the Cayman Islands. The anchors can destroy up to an acre of the sea bed ecosystem in merely a day!. They will now be required to either ride at anchor near Spotts Bay or use advanced technology available on newer ships to hold their position without the anchor. The Cayman Islands are known as a financial center and so do not need those tourist dollars to survive like many other Caribbean islands. This allows them to flex some muscle and be picky about where ships park themselves.

Answer 4

Anchors are law here (in Canada) on all ships and boats, from your private fishing vessel (some exceptions on tiny boats, if you have oars instead) up to the biggest container ships.

It would also cost a fortune in fuel to hold it using bow thrusters and such...might as well just have a tug or two hold it in place, once again, $$ to do that.

Answer 5

No all ocean going ships (solas) must have not only one anchor ,but two anchors the port (left) anchor must have 4 shots of chain,and the starboard must have 12 shots of chain.A shot of chain is how it is measured one shot equals 90 feet.Just because a vessel has DP dynamic position will not stop a boat from drifting or plowing into something if all power is lost.

Answer 6

Although cruise ships may not anchor in some places, large ships do need to anchor in many harbors before they can be let in.

Answer 7

Does'nt add up, what if there is a power loss ? The first thing to would be "Drop anchor", to secure a position, with out drifting aimlessly.