eli5 : how big ship anchors don’t get stuck in the sea bed rocks ?

Question

this question was in my mind for years… if the anchor keeps the huge ship from drifting, how do you get free when you want to sail away ?

In: 3683

Answer 1

Firstly you chose the type if seabed where you anchor. One with big rocks is not good place to anchor in the first place.

Then, as you pull in the anchor cable the ship or boat moves forward towards the anchor. This brings the anchor chain more and more vertical which levers the tines out of the seabed.

Finally you might also employ a “tripping line”, a second cable attached to the back of the anchor. If you cant disengage the anchor forwards, this pulls it out backwards.