Fantasy lost anchor at Grand Cayman

[Timinwa]

We just disembarked the fantasy today and while anchoring in Grand Cayman the ship lost the port side anchor and chain. We noticed the anchor and chain missing when we tendered and I remember hearing the anchor chain deploying. There was also a burnt smell in the theater before we tendered. I asked an officer later on and it was a winch brake failure that caused the loss. The officer said they already arranged the retrieval of the gear. I don't think any guests knew as the crew instantly deployed the starboard anchor to continue tendering operations. It was a great cruise!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Does occur.

 

[Timinwa]

Does occur.

Yes it does happen on occasion. The brakes on the winches are a bit of a weak spot. If the winch fails it is most often the brake. Several you tube videos of ships losing the gear can be found.

 

[bcwife76]

Whoops! well sounds like Disney was quick to jump into action and remedy the situation! Glad you had a great cruise, we sail on the Fantasy for the first time in January!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes it does happen on occasion. The brakes on the winches are a bit of a weak spot. If the winch fails it is most often the brake. Several you tube videos of ships losing the gear can be found.

Yes, hope they didn't damage the reef.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, hope they didn't damage the reef.

Hmm. I guess I assume that they drop anchor in an area that doesn't affect the reef. Loosing the anchor chain might do more bottom damage, but wouldn't it just be directly under the ship?

 

[John VN]

I know this is "just not right" but what can I say other than......

 

[dcassetta]

The Grand Cayman Anchorage area is unfortunately in area that's relatively close to a reef. So although uncommon, it is possible for a ship,s anchor and chain to damage the reef.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes above the " cheeseburger reef".

 

[Timinwa]

Yes, hope they didn't damage the reef.

Each cruise ship that arrives in Grand Cayman has to have a port pilot direct them to a safe anchorage to protect the reefs. I'm sure the gear is in the safe zone.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Each cruise ship that arrives in Grand Cayman has to have a port pilot direct them to a safe anchorage to protect the reefs. I'm sure the gear is in the safe zone.

Safe to normal parameters.

 

[dcassetta]

All ports use pilots to guide ships to the safe berths and/or anchorages. But the Cayman Islands have quite a bit of reef area and damage has occurred, even when ships are in the approved anchorage.

 

[Timinwa]

Maybe I should have phrased it differently. The pilot and the government agency in charge of the port in Grand Cayman have determined where ships can anchor. They have chosen which areas to preserve and which areas to not preserve. The area where the gear was lost was in the area designated for anchoring. Whether it was a ref or not - don't know - but was in the designated zone. In reference to the zenith - the gear was dropped where they were told to drop, it apparently was an area designated for ships to anchor but was not used often. Unfortunately it was a reef. I guess the islands have to weigh the cost of hurting reefs and the financial benefits of having ships coming in. Tough job but I think it is done fairly well in the Caribbean.

 

[brookness]

My mom was in Grand Cayman on vacation and she texted us that it had lost one of its anchors. It lost 1190 feet of chain...each 3 feet weighs 1 ton. She said it was a pretty big deal there when it happened but never heard much more afterward. The only thing they ever really said was that a retrieval company would come get it.

 

[ziravan]

My mom was in Grand Cayman on vacation and she texted us that it had lost one of its anchors. It lost 1190 feet of chain...each 3 feet weighs 1 ton. She said it was a pretty big deal there when it happened but never heard much more afterward. The only thing they ever really said was that a retrieval company would come get it.

Wow that's 800,000 lbs not counting the anchor itself.

 

[Quellman]

So they are able to retrieve the anchor that was dropped? That's cool.

 

[brookness]

So they are able to retrieve the anchor that was dropped? That's cool.

The locals said that would happen. My dad said he thought they were there later that same week, but I'm not positive.

 

[scgustafson]

Just realize that it is not the anchor that prevents the ships movement from anchorage, but the weight of the chain, as a length of 5-7 times the depth of the anchorage is paid out and used to keep the ship within the radius of the anchorage. The anchor merely serves as a weight to start the momentum of the anchor chain.

 

[scgustafson]

I know this is "just not right" but what can I say other than......

Just realize that "anchors aweigh" means the opposite of "anchor's away" as you are using it. Aweigh means that anchor is off of the bottom of the sea floor on its way back up to be secured on the ship.

 

[loves to dive]

Maybe I should have phrased it differently. The pilot and the government agency in charge of the port in Grand Cayman have determined where ships can anchor. They have chosen which areas to preserve and which areas to not preserve. The area where the gear was lost was in the area designated for anchoring. Whether it was a ref or not - don't know - but was in the designated zone. In reference to the zenith - the gear was dropped where they were told to drop, it apparently was an area designated for ships to anchor but was not used often. Unfortunately it was a reef. I guess the islands have to weigh the cost of hurting reefs and the financial benefits of having ships coming in. Tough job but I think it is done fairly well in the Caribbean.

As you can tell by my screen name I'm a scuba diver and have been diving in Grand Cayman 3 times. Most of the dive sites are on the other side of the island away from the cruise ships, mostly because, yes indeedy those ships have ruined the reef. We've also been to Cozumel and I can attest to the fact that reef is also torn up. There are some islands that have put their foot down and said no cruise ships but not very many but we can really tell the difference when we dive in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific. Funny thing, dive boats are not allowed to anchor to the bottom, there are fixed floats that they all have to tie off to, which is kind of fun watching because someone has to dive from the boat to attach them in most cases. I've seen many a captain get in a heated argument with another captain because they are tied off on the buoy they weren't scheduled for. They have also taken up this practice in most places off the east coast of Florida as well.