🔍 Key Concepts

• Anchor holding mechanisms in different seabed types (soft vs stiff soils) • How anchor flukes penetrate and hold in the bottom • What causes an anchor to trip or break out when the load direction changes

💭 Think About

• Think about which type of seabed is more likely to let the anchor flukes move or pivot suddenly when the direction of pull changes. • Consider where an anchor is more likely to be deeply embedded and resistant to sudden movement, versus where it might be more marginally held and easier to break out. • Ask yourself: in which bottom type would a change in tension or direction on the cable most easily cause the anchor to rotate and lose its grip?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on what tripping means: the anchor breaking out or losing its hold when the line of pull changes. • Compare how anchors behave in soft vs stiff soils when the pulling direction shifts—where is the grip more secure vs more easily disturbed? • Do not confuse water depth (shallow/deep) with bottom characteristics; focus on the seabed material and anchor–soil interaction.