[Maritime] Trouble of hyd’ motor for windlass & cut anchor chain

Outline

One of our fleet has cut anchor chain to escape effective area of typhoon due to damage of hyd motor for windlass.

Few days later after typhoon’s gone, we’ve tried to find buoy in the position of chain cutting but failed to find the buoy due to using unsuitable buoy.

Therefore, we arranged special work boat equipped with hook to find lost anchor & chain, then the boat recovered it within half the day and connected it to ship's chain successfully.

 

Cause of the trouble

1. Cause of windlass hyd motor damage

Hyd pump for windlass hyd motor was run unexpectedly and it made hyd motor to run.

At that time, control lever was in lowering position not in neutral position and coupling gear of anchor chain wheel for windlass was not disengaged, which made hyd motor rotate for lowering operation.

During this lowering operation, anchor chain was stuck on the gear shaft, which caused hyd’ motor damage.

2. Cause of cutting anchor chain

A typhoon was approaching to the position where the vessel was anchoring during the hyd motor is in damage.

She had to heave-up the anchor to escape effective area of the typhoon.

Thus, crews tried to replace it with a new spare, but they couldn’t complete to replace it in time because it took long time due to must rust on the bolt & casing.

And the anchor was started dragging and she was moved to shore side due to strong wind & current.

So, finally we instructed ship’s master to cut the anchor chain to prevent any stranding accident.

Prevention manner

1) Before starting the hyd pump for winch & windlass,
    following things should be confirmed.
    - Disengage coupling gear from winch drum & anchor 
    chain wheel
    
    -Set control level in neutral position
    
2) Before operating the hyd motor by control lever
    - Loose brake band for the durm.
3) After heaving-up or lowering anchor, following things
    should be confirmed.
    - Secure anchor & anchor chain by brake band, chain
      stopper & chain stopper wire.
   -Set the control lever to neutral position & lock it with 
      locking device
   -Disengage coupling gear from winch drum & 
      anchorchain wheel
   -Turn-off the switch of the hyd pump motor
4) Following cautions to be stenciled at the wall of
    forecastele & poop dk around mooring  winch & windlass.
    
5) If you face emergency situation and you have to cut anchor
   chain, you should use proper buoy & line.We’ll supply a
   proper buoy to all vessels.