>> it would snap...
Yes, unlikely a anchor assembly would be designed to sink the ship is supposed to simply tether. No doubt there would be some significant dredging before that “thunderous” snap.
Yeah, if she made contact with bottom, I'd say its safe to assume that many ocean floor residences would need to find a new home... and new underwear!
There has to be some sailors here!!!
Bad thing to do, yes. But ship designers have taken this into account because it happens time to time; it can even happen by itself in extremely bad weather.
If this drunk dropped the anchor, he knew enough to back off the mechanical brake, lift the “cat’s paw”, and hit the pelican hook latch link with a fair sized piece of something hard enough to get it to release. After that the anchor would fall and the chain would pay or run out of the windlass’ wildcat until all the chain ran out of the chain locker.
The bitter end of the chain is tied to a fitting in the chain locker with some sort of “weak link”; a shackle that is sawed halfway through or sometimes only a strong piece of rope.
So, in all likelihood, the anchor and all of the chain is on the bottom of the Gulf and little or no damage to the ship.
Still it’s hazarding of a vessel and the guy needs to pay the price for his act of idiocy! Just my $0.02.