The Anchor Chain is a steel chain connecting the hull and the anchor. The main functions of the anchor chain are connecting the anchor and the ship, and transferring the anchor’s holding force to the hull. When anchoring, the anchor chain thrown out has a certain weight, which can exert a certain amount of external force on the ship in the water such as wind and current., and play a buffering effect. The anchor chain in the horizontal bottom part maintains the level of force on the anchor, which is conducive to the reliable bottom of the anchor. At the same time, this part of the anchor chain can also provide a part of the anchoring force due to the blocking effect of the soil.
In deeper water, the mooring chain is generally composed of several sections. The section in contact with the seabed and the section close to the water surface is composed of anchor chains. The central section uses metal or fiber cables to reduce weight. In shallow water conditions, the anchor chain can be used in full.
What are the functions of the anchor chain?
- The chain connected the anchor and the hull;
- It is used to transmit and buffer the external force on the ship;
- The part of the anchor chain lying on the seabed generates auxiliary holding force.
How to classify the anchor chain?
- Classification according to their uses, anchor chains are divided into marine anchor chains and marine mooring chains.
- Classification according to their functions, anchor chains can be divided into stud link chains and studless chains.
Stud Link Chain 
Studless Chain
- Classification according to the manufacturing method of the chain link:
- Welding anchor chain: advanced technology, simple, low manufacturing cost, quality than other types of anchor chain, widely used.
- Cast rigid anchor chain: Advantages: high strength, good rigidity, no loose support and long service life. Disadvantages: high manufacturing cost, poor impact load resistance of anchor chain.
- Forged anchor chain: The process is complicated and the cost is high, so it is basically not used.
Why Anchor Chain is Important?
Using chains on any anchor is the most important part of the entire anchoring system. While some manufacturers might claim their anchor does not require chains, decades of anchoring research and testing prove otherwise. Typically these are low-grade anchors, and used by boaters in kayaks, or on smaller bodies of water, where the forces on the anchors are minimal, and using chains won’t make much of a difference.
Benefits:
- Chain allows the anchor to set faster and more reliably by creating a downward pull on the anchor handle (also referred to as the shank).
- Helps the rode to lie horizontally once set, rather than be pulled upward and loosen the anchor.
- Protects your nylon line from debris or other sharp objects underwater that could potentially lead to a cut line, and losing an anchor.
- Allows the breakaway release method to be utilized and minimizes the chance of losing an anchor stuck under something.
- Transfers the energy to the very end of the anchor handle, and in a downward motion. In a sense, adding 4 feet of chain to an anchor is like extending the handle by 4 feet. Since that certainly isn’t practical, one can imagine though the type of leverage that would be gained from a handle that long.
