Question 3947 Deck General

70% to pass

The best method to stop a vessel from dragging anchor in a sand bottom is to _______________.

A reduce the length of the cable

B swing the rudder several times to work the anchor into the bottom

C back the engines

D pay out more anchor cable

AI Explanation

The correct answer is D) pay out more anchor cable. When a vessel is dragging anchor in a sand bottom, the best method to stop it is to pay out more anchor cable. This increases the scope (ratio of anchor cable length to water depth) which allows the anchor to better grip the sand bottom and prevent further dragging. Reducing the cable length (A), swinging the rudder (B), or backing the engines (C) are not as effective in this situation compared to increasing the anchor cable scope.

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