A windlass is deck machinery, typically located on the forecastle, used to control the anchor and chain — raising (heaving) and lowering (paying out) the anchor as needed.
Key Functions
- Heaving the anchor — retrieving the anchor and chain, often against significant load, particularly when breaking the anchor free from firm holding ground
- Paying out chain — controlled lowering of the anchor and chain when anchoring
- Mooring line handling — many windlasses double as mooring winches, using a warping drum to handle mooring lines during berthing operations
Chain Stopper and Brake
A windlass includes a brake mechanism to hold the anchor chain under load without continuous power, and typically a separate chain stopper as additional securing once the anchor is in its final position, providing redundancy against brake failure.
Windlass Operation Safety
Windlass operation involves genuine mechanical hazards — chain under significant tension, moving machinery, and the risk of chain running out uncontrolled if brakes fail. Standard operating procedures and crew positioning during anchor operations are specifically designed around these risks.
Maintenance
Regular windlass maintenance — lubrication, brake inspection, and chain condition checks — is essential given how much anchoring safety depends on this equipment functioning reliably, particularly the brake holding under full load.
Exam Relevance
Windlass operation and anchor-handling procedures are core Ship Knowledge and Deck Operations topics in deck officer competency exams.