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Lost the anchor and chain on a charter: who pays for new ones?
Short answer
If the anchor or chain goes because of how the crew handled it,
the base normally takes the cost from the deposit.
If a corroded shackle broke or the bitter end was never made fast, the fault lies with the boat,
and that is the charter company's problem.
Anchoring is part of almost every evening in the bays of the Adriatic, the Ionian or the Balearics, and a lost anchor is a loss charter bases bill often. The anchor, chain, shackles and swivel all have to be replaced, and there is often a diver and the rush to get the boat ready for the next crew on top. It usually happens in one of three ways: the anchor fouls a rock or an old mooring and is cut free, the chain runs out to the end during the anchoring, or a shackle or swivel lets go under load.
Who pays turns on the cause. The charterer is responsible for damage the crew is to blame for during the cruise, and the base normally settles it against the deposit. Cut a fouled anchor loose without trying a tripping line or a diver, or let the chain run out unchecked, and the loss is usually yours. It is different when the boat was at fault: a bitter end not made fast in the chain locker, a corroded shackle that snaps, a windlass that fails. Then the charter company handed over a boat with a defect, and the loss belongs with it.
So look at the ground tackle properly at check in. Is the bitter end tied off in the locker, are the shackles moused and free of rust, is the chain marked so you know how much is out, does the windlass run both ways? Anything wrong goes on the check in sheet. If the anchor fouls, note the position, involve the base and record what happened with photos and in the log. Whether a deposit insurance steps in depends on its wording, so read beforehand whether lost equipment is included.
Worth remembering
Crew error
cut loose without trying to recover it, chain run out: usually the charterer
Defect
shackle broke, bitter end loose, windlass failed: usually the charter company
Check the bitter end in the chain locker before you drop the anchor for the first time.
Questions
What owners ask us about this
Can the base take a lost anchor out of my deposit?
If the crew is to blame, for example by cutting it loose without trying to recover it or letting the chain run out, normally yes. If a defect caused it, such as a broken shackle or a bitter end that was never made fast, there is a good case against the deduction.
What should I do if the anchor is fouled?
Try a tripping line or manoeuvring to free it first, then ask the base whether it can send a diver. If you cut it loose without asking, the loss is usually yours. Note the position so the anchor can often be recovered later.
What do I check on the anchor gear at check in?
That the bitter end is made fast in the locker, the shackles and swivel are secured and not corroded, the chain is marked and the windlass runs both ways. Any defect goes on the check in sheet.
Related
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