Ground Tackle

The anchor, cable and associated equipment used to secure a vessel to the seabed.

Ground tackle includes the anchor and its chain, rope or combination cable, together with connecting shackles, swivels where used and the equipment needed to deploy, recover and secure it. The term may refer to one anchoring arrangement or collectively to the vessel’s anchoring equipment.

Its components must be compatible and suitable for the vessel, expected depth, holding ground and environmental loads. Inspection should include wear, corrosion, distortion, rope condition, connections and the means by which the bitter end is secured and can be released in an emergency.