What is Sea Anchor and its requirement as per SOLAS?

A sea anchor (also known as a drift anchor) is a device used to stabilize a boat in heavy weather.

• A sea anchor shall be conical in shape and have the following dimensions-
• The sea anchor material shall be porous, slightly stiff and shall allow a water penetration of between 10 and 12 cubic centimetres per second per square centimetre at a pressure of 550Pa(roughly equivalent to a speed through water of 2 knots).
• The painter line used to secure the sea anchor to a liferaft or boat shall –
  1. be inherently rot proof and of braided construction; and
  2. be 30 metres long; not less than 8 mm. in diameter and have a breaking load includingattachments and knots of not less than –
     • 5 kN for liferafts up to 10 person capacity;
     • 0 kN for liferafts of 11 person to 25 person capacity; and
     • 0 kN for all other sea anchors or have a factor of safety of 3:1 based on atow test at 6 knots whichever is the greater.
• The shroud lines shall be designed to restrict the sea anchor from tumbling through itself.
• 5.The sea anchor shall be stable when towed through the water at speeds up to 6 knots.
• 6.The sea anchor mouth shall open immediately on deployment.