Trying to parse this YouTube statement: "the ship could not drop anchor because..."

[SempreMare]

Context - a windy choppy day on a Viking Antarctic expedition cruise

The ship had to skip a port and everyone was taking seasick pills:

 

"the ship could not drop anchor because it would just drag the ship" 

 

Anchors don't drag ships.   Ships drag anchors.  Right?   

Does that simply mean the anchor could not "catch" on the bottom and keep the ship still?  

[CDNPolar]

 

 

At anchor, ships are affected by external forces, the type and weight of the anchor, the nature of the sea bottom, the holding power of the anchor and other factors. This can result in a ship at anchorage dragging the anchor, which can result in grounding or a collision.

[deec]

I thought the Expedition ships did not use anchors? 

[Heidi13]

11 hours ago, SempreMare said:

Context - a windy choppy day on a Viking Antarctic expedition cruise

The ship had to skip a port and everyone was taking seasick pills:

 

"the ship could not drop anchor because it would just drag the ship" 

 

Anchors don't drag ships.   Ships drag anchors.  Right?   

Does that simply mean the anchor could not "catch" on the bottom and keep the ship still?  

 

Lots of factors are taken into account when anchoring a ship, with the primary ones being - wind, current, depth of water and holding power of the bottom. However, on cruise ships the safety of operating tenders and the pax comfort will preclude anchoring, well before it isn't safe to anchor.

 

The anchor is only required to take the chain down to the seabed, where the chain is laid out on the bottom. It is the chain that holds the ship in place, more than the anchor.

[Jim Avery]

1 hour ago, deec said:

I thought the Expedition ships did not use anchors? 

Yes they do.  See anchor below.  There is another on the starboard side.🍹