RIG SHIFT NOTES

RETRIEVING ANCHORS
It is essential that when chasing out that the vessels position is maintained over the chain at all
times
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Vessel is manoeuvred into a position to take pennant. When manoeuvring around the legs
make sure that sufficient distance off is allowed to prevent the pennant becoming snagged
on the leg.
Pennant is connected, gently pull away paying out 1.7 wire / water depth ratio.
Rig tensions up, when the all ok given start gently steaming away maintaining a speed
of 2-2.5 knots. When the PCC starts dredging the bottom be prepared to apply a little
more power, approximately 20%, but only gently as not much power is required for this
operation.
Maintaining position over the chain. Closely watch the lead of the wire as this is the best
indication of the location of the chain on the bottom. Be aware of the fact that the tug nav
program only gives a direct bearing from rig to anchor and doesn't allow for snaking of'
the chain on the bottom. All this depends on how well the vessel originally laying the
anchor stayed on track. Best method to employ to move the vessel laterally is a
combination of bow thruster and rudder. "Bow thruster in rudder in, bow thruster out
rudder out". As you run along the chain have the winch operator heave in and pay out
constantly on the work wire to help the PCC bounce along the chain.
When near the anchor keep a close eye on speed and wire angle.
As soon as the chaser is on the anchor increase power immediately to approx 40%
Inform the rig that you are at the anchor and get them to slack the chain out,
Once the confirmation has been given that the chain is slack, reduce the power slightly and
commence heaving the anchor out of the bottom.
Heave the anchor all the way to the roller to confirm that you have caught it correctly
If the anchor has to be decked take of all power and come gently astern to allow it to
come up over the roller. If the anchor has to be rotated use a short burst of
propulsion to turn it in the wash.
Ease the power to minimum and ask the rig to start heaving back.
If the rig is having trouble heaving up you might have to turn around and head back.
Always ensure that turns are away from the other anchors and when turning back always
turn the reciprocal way you came around.
When drawing close to the rig slowly increase power to approx 20%. When about
300' off start paying out the wire. Ensure that power is maintained to prevent the anchor
from slipping through the collar.
Stop the wire at the socket and place in jaws. Gently ease off the power.
When the anchor is racked disconnect and pass back the pennant.

RUNNING ANCHORS

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Manoeuvre the vessel into position to take pennant.

Once connected gently pull away and get the rig to pay out 100' of chain. At the same
time pay out 100' of wire.
Manoeuvre the vessel back towards the anchor to a position very close to enable the collir
to drop over the end of the anchor.
Gently move away being extremely careful not to get too much fwd motion as you could
risk breaking the pennant.

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Once weight comes onto the wire gently ease up the power to about 20%. Ask the rig
to pay out to 500', At the same time, heave in the wire to get the anchor at the roller.
Observe the anchor at the roller to ensure that it has been caught correctly,

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If the anchor has not been caught correctly increase the power slightly and pay out some
of the ships wire. Keep increasing power until the anchor flips through the PCC collar.
Once this occurs ease back to approximately 20% power and heave the anchor back to
the roller.

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Line the ship up to the heading required and maintain position over the run line,
Notify the rig that you are ready to run. Once given the all OK instruct the person at the
anchor winch to let the anchor run.
It is essential that not too much power is applied early on as there will be no catenary of'
chain to act as a buffer.

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Listen to the rig calling chain out as opposed to vessel distance off the rig.

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Power is gently increased as the chain is run out. Pay particular attention to the vessel's speed, 3.5 4 knots is the optimum for the initial part of the run out. Depending on the type of bottom and water
depth, power settings can vary greatly, Anything from 50% to 100% could be required for this
operation. Avoid reducing the power too quickly as this could stop the vessel and then it is very hard
to build momentum again if this occurs.

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When close to the end of the run speed should not be more than 2.5 knots, (ideally 1.5 2 knots) to
avoid shock loads when the brake is applied at the rig.

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When at the end of the run and the brake is on at the rig, maintain power for a minute or so to fully
stretch the chain out.

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On the ok from the rig to drop the anchor on the bottom reduce the power slightly to a sufficient
setting that can be handled by the winch. Bearing in mind that good power has to be maintained to
keep the anchor offthe bottom while paying out the wire.

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Pay out to 1. 5 times the water depth. Reduce all power briefly to allow the anchor to drop to the
bottom. Observe the wire when it goes slack notify the rig that the anchor is on the bottom, Maintain
minimum power to ensure that the vessel is not pulled back over the top of the anchor and also that
the vessel does not pull the anchor out of the bottom. In very rough conditions it may be necessary to
pay out more wire than the 1. 5 ratio to prevent this happening,

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The rig will tension up the chain to set the anchor in the mud. When sufficient tension is obtained on
the rig, commence stripping back. It is essential that the vessel backs over the top of the anchor. Pay
particular attention to the lead of the wire. 40% astern power is required for this part of the operation.
As the vessel backs up over the anchor heave in some of the wire to take up part of the slack. Closely
watch the wire, when it kicks, indicating that the collar is off the anchor pay out the wire back to the
1.5 ratio.

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Keep the astern power on and try to maintain a speed of approx 4 knots watching the lead of the wire
to maintain position over the chain. Bow thrusters are the only means of effectively steering so just
point the stem towards the lead of the wire. Same as for chasing out have the winch operator heave in
and pay out approximately 50, on the work wire to assist the PCC to bounce along the chain.

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When the vessel is over the transition zone where the chain comes off the bottom start heaving in the
work wire to shorten the length as the collar comes up the pennant.