When is the ship's anchor used?

• A. When the ship is maneuvering at high speed
• B. To hold the ship in place when not under way.
• C. To determine the ship's position
• D. To secure the ship to another vessel

Answer: (B)

Anchors hold a ship in place when it’s not under way. By lowering the anchor to the seabed, the vessel can resist wind, current, and tides and stay in a fixed position. This is essential during loading or unloading, while waiting for a berth, or in bad weather when you need to prevent drifting. Using an anchor during high-speed maneuvers wouldn’t work—the anchor wouldn’t set properly and could damage the ship or push it off course. Navigation and position fixes come from charts, GPS, and instruments, not from the anchor. Securing to another vessel is done with lines and towing gear, not by anchoring.