A vertical anchor windlass is a piece of equipment for handling the anchor chain on a ship. It is designed to be mounted on the ship's foredeck and allows the anchor to be raised and lowered. They are generally used on small and medium-sized vessels, and are less expensive and easier to maintain than horizontal windlasses. However, they are less effective at lifting heavy loads, and are not recommended for large vessels or those operating in rough waters.
The vertical windlass is usually powered by a crank or electric motor, and is equipped with a winch to wind up the anchor chain. The anchor chain is often attached to a hook or pulley on the windlass and pulled up until it is deposited on the ship's foredeck.
There are several types of windlass used on ships, each with its own characteristics and uses. Here are a few examples of commonly used windlasses:
Vertical windlass: as previously mentioned, a vertical windlass is anchor chain handling equipment that is mounted on the ship's foredeck and allows the anchor to be raised and lowered vertically.
Horizontal windlass: a horizontal windlass is a piece of anchor chain handling equipment mounted on the aft deck of the ship, which raises and lowers the anchor horizontally.
Electric windlass: an electric windlass is one that is powered by an electric motor rather than a crank. They are generally faster and easier to use than manual windlasses.
Hydraulic windlass: A hydraulic windlass is one that is operated by a hydraulic system rather than by a crank or electric motor. They are generally faster and easier to use than manual windlasses, but require more frequent maintenance.
A vertical windlass may be fitted with a headstock, a piece of rope-handling equipment that precedes the chain. It is used to guide the chain on the windlass winch when it is hauled up.
