How US Aircraft Carrier Deal With Unwanted Elements on their Massive Anchors

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Maintenance Program

Since carriers are vital to the Navy’s operations, its crews are well-versed in maintaining the ships. An efficient preventative maintenance program is implemented to ensure everything is up and running as expected. 

Teamwork

Maintenance of the anchor requires coordinated teamwork to operate heavy equipment like the windlass to release and recover the heavy chains.

Safety First

Crews are usually equipped with hard hats, safety goggles, and earbuds to protect themselves from any accidents they might face. 

Rinse and Repeat

When these anchors are raised, the crew rinses its chains to remove excess salt and unwanted elements. A high-pressure water stream from a firehose is used to do the cleaning.

Rust Prevention

Furthermore, the chains are painted with a thick layer of marine paint to prevent rust from forming. The presence of rust on its chains can negatively impact the anchor’s strength and rigidity.