How long is the chain of a typical ship's anchor? Can a ship anchor in a deep/open ocean? Anchor chain on ships is made up of 90′ lengths (called “shots”) that are attached to each other using a “detachable link.” The last shot is attached to the ship using a pinning mechanism, so the chain can be detached in an emergency or for maintenance. It varies, but most ships carry between 10 and 13 shots. This is about 900–1200 feet or 275–365 meters. Depending on a number of conditions (weather, type o