Essential to the maritime industry, anchor chains are fundamental to the safety of ships and smooth operations. They also prevent environmental hazards. Anchor chains act as a link between the ships and the seabed. Therefore, they carry the weight and enormous force exerted by ships, providing stability and safety to marine environments.
Whether sailing in a calm harbor or braving roaring seas, chain sails maintain stability, anchoring, reducing the risk of sailing or sinking, on which VEVOR is the leader in the anchor screw market, ensuring affordable, high-quality anchor screws.
Anchor chains are indispensable components of the maritime industry. As such, various entities and professionals in the industry use them for various purposes. They include:
Cruise ships, ships, and other carriers use chains to secure moorings or to maintain stability and security during offshore operations such as rest stops or tender meetings.
Offshore platforms, drilling rigs, floating production, and storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels use anchor chains to anchor the ocean floor safely, ensuring stability and safety during offshore oil operations and gas exploration and production.
Fishing vessels and aquariums commonly use anchor chains to secure their positions when engaged in aquaculture activities while fishing in coastal waters.
Military vessels, including warships, submarines, and support vessels, rely on anchor chains for mooring during military operations, exercises, and maneuvers, ensuring they will be stable and ready for operations in marine environments.
Manufacturers make anchor chains from various materials. The diversity in materials is essential as these chains' needs and usage environments differ. Here are some materials anchor chains are made from and their characteristics.
Steel is the most commonly used material for locking chains because of its exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion and shock. Steel anchor chains are usually made of carbon steel or alloy steel. Alloy steel chains provide greater tensile strength and better corrosion resistance. Steel anchor chains are widely used in commercial ships, the marine industry, and the military.
Titanium anchor chains provide excellent corrosion resistance, lightweight construction, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium chains, such as military ships, submarines, and high-performance cruisers, are ideal for applications where weight reduction and corrosion resistance are paramount.
Still, titanium chains are more expensive than steel screws, making them less widely used in industries such as commercial ships.
Aluminum screws are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making them suitable for use in freshwater environments and small marine applications. Aluminum screws are commonly used in small recreational boats, dinghies, and personal watercraft, with weight reduction and corrosion resistance being key considerations.
Synthetic plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are used in lightweight chains and harnesses for small boats, kayaks, and recreational watercraft. These materials provide buoyancy, softness, and resistance to corrosion.
Anchor chains and anchor rodes are closely related components of the anchor systems. As such, they are usually mistaken for each other. These mistakes, therefore, necessitate us to discuss both, pointing out their differences and features.
Anchor riding refers to the entire anchor system, including additional components such as anchor chain, anchor line (rope or cable), and coils or shackles. The anchor-rider works with the anchor chain to secure the vessel in place in the 1990s.
The anchor chain is the main link between the anchor and the vessel. It increases the weight of the anchor system, helps keep the anchor well aligned with the seafloor, and adds high pressure to drive the anchor to the bottom.
Screw chains are usually made of steel and come in variations such as galvanized steel or stainless steel. The anchor ride may now include various materials for the anchor lines, such as nylon, polyester, or a combination of synthetic fibers and steel lines.
Anchor chains with specific connections, such as stud links or short links, are usually designed to increase strength, flexibility, and resistance to tangling. The chain's size and length depend on the vessel's size, the water's depth, and the environment. A riding anchor is usually a chain link length followed by an anchor rope length.
Excellence is VEVOR’s hallmark. As such, we strive to achieve the highest quality possible, making our anchor chains widely acceptable among professionals. VEVOR anchor chains are built to withstand the harsh marine environment, ensuring longevity, reliability, and performance in diverse maritime conditions. They are specifically made with galvanized and stainless steel to withstand the corrosion that may come with some water bodies.
VEVOR anchor chains are engineered to deliver exceptional strength and load-bearing capacity, capable of securely anchoring vessels of various sizes and types. Recognizing the diversity in needs, VEVOR offers various customization options for anchor chains, enabling people to choose the ones that best suit their needs.
With VEVOR, you do not have to worry about regulations and compliance. We adhere to industry standards and ensure our chains receive the necessary certifications.
Galvanized anchor screws are coated with a zinc coating to protect against corrosion, while stainless steel screws are inherently corrosion-resistant due to their structure. Galvanized screws are more economical, whereas stainless steel screws provide good corrosion resistance but are expensive.
While hooked ropes (or hooks) can be used with anchor hooks as part of the ride anchor, ropes alone are generally not used for hooking, especially under rough conditions or on rough beaches or rocks.
Retrieving an anchor chain involves lowering from the bow or stern of the vessel to keep the anchor stable enough to reach the seabed and slowly recede.
