Captain's Brief · Maritime Learning · 2 min read · Oct 18, 2026
Photo: Antti Leppänen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
How Deep Can You Anchor? Windlass Heaving Capacity
How deep can you anchor? The answer is in your windlass, not your chart. In our example, a 76 mm grade 3 chain with a 10 tonne anchor tops out near 99 metres with no margin, and about 63 metres with a 20% margin. In deep water, walk the anchor back and check your windlass data plate and maker's manual. Source: IACS UR A3.
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