What the examiner is probing
This outcome sits within ship manoeuvring at command level. The examiner wants to see that you, as Master, understand the mechanics of what has gone wrong, can direct your crew through the rectification safely, and can make the command decision to cut away if the situation demands it. A watchkeeper-level answer describes the procedure; a Master-level answer owns the risk assessment, crew safety, and the fallback decisions.
The fouled anchor: understanding the problem
A fouled anchor means the crown, flukes, or shank have become hooked on an obstruction — most commonly the vessel's own cable wrapping around the anchor (a fouled hawse is a separate but related problem). A fouled hawse occurs when the vessel has swung repeatedly or sheered at anchor on two cables until they become crossed, twisted, or wound around each other above the anchor, making weighing either or both anchors impossible by conventional heaving.
Fouled anchor — clearing options:
- Trip line / buoy rope: the correct preventive measure. If rigged before letting go, hauling the trip line applies force to the crown and breaks the anchor out from the obstruction. At command level you should note this should be a standing consideration before anchoring in areas with known obstructions or heavy ground tackle history.
- Walk back and re-position: ease cable, manoeuvre the vessel over the anchor to change the lead, then heave. A change in approach angle often frees a hooked fluke.
- Diver: in sheltered, safe conditions, a diver can attach a wire strop to the crown or a shackle above the obstruction so a crane or the windlass can apply an inverted pull. You must assess diver safety against weather, current, and proximity to the chain.
- Abandon: if the anchor is irrecoverably fast and the situation demands it — weather deteriorating, vessel in danger — buoy the cable, slip and buoy, and recover under better conditions or accept the loss.
Fouled hawse — clearing:
Establish which cable is uppermost and the direction of the twist. The standard method:
- Veer the cable with the greater scope to bring a bight up; pass a slip wire or chain through the bight and secure it to a bollard to hold the weight temporarily.
- Walk back the outboard cable to take weight off it.
- Manoeuvre the vessel — usually a slow turn in the direction opposite to the twist — to unwind the cables.
- Heave each cable back to working scope and re-secure.
A cross (single 180° twist) is resolved more simply than a round turn (360° or more), which may require the vessel to complete a full circle. Identify the number of twists before deciding the manoeuvring plan.
Command considerations throughout:
- Crew on the forecastle are working with heavy gear under load — a snap-back zone exists on any taut wire or shackle arrangement.
- Maintain a ready anchor if manoeuvring in a confined or tidal area.
- Log the incident, time, position, and method used.
Structuring your spoken answer
Open by categorising the problem: fouled anchor versus fouled hawse are distinct. Describe what has caused the condition before moving to the remedy. Walk through the options in a logical priority order — simpler and safer first, escalating to diver and then to slip and buoy. For fouled hawse, describe establishing the direction and number of twists before committing to any manoeuvre. Finish with a command-level statement: you would maintain situational awareness throughout (weather, sea room, crew safety), keep a ready anchor, and log the event.