Question

Which of the following is not a part of an anchor?

• A. Fluke
• B. Pea or Bill
• C. Shank
• D. Blake slip

Hint:

The Blake slip holds the chain on the ship's deck, whereas the Flukes, Shank, and Bill are the heavy parts that actually sit at the bottom of the ocean.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Anatomy of a Ship's Anchor:
A standard naval anchor (such as the stockless anchor) consists of massive cast steel parts designed to dig into the seabed to hold the ship in place.

Step 2: Identifying the Anchor Components:

• Shank (C): The long, central vertical stem of the anchor to which the anchor cable is attached via a shackle.
• Fluke (A): The large, flat, shovel-like parts of the anchor that pivot and dig into the seabed to provide holding power.
• Pea or Bill (B): The very tip or extremity of the fluke that initially pierces the ground.

Step 3: Identifying the Exception:
Blake Slip (D): A Blake slip is a general-purpose heavy-duty mechanical stopper mechanism fitted on the forecastle deck. It is used to temporarily grip and secure the anchor chain (cable) to take the strain off the windlass. It is a part of the deck's cable rigging gear, not a physical part of the anchor itself. Thus, option (D) is correct.