Why Fouled Anchor used as navy insignia ?

An anchor that is foul of the cable or chain is a symbol found in various Navy crests.  No one really knows why the anchor was used as a symbol for the chief petty officer. Many chiefs believe that it symbolises the difficulty that they face everyday, but that is just a fanciful guess.

The device is on the cap of the most naval officers, the distinguishing device of a Chief Petty Officer, the collar device of midshipman, and on the cap badges of the British naval officers.  Many sailors regard the device a sign of poor seamanship.  Although, artistic to a civilian, it has been called a sailor's disgrace by some. 

The fouled anchor was first seen as an insignia of the Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Howard of Effignham, around 1588 during the Spanish Armada battle. More than 400 years later, the insignia is still the official seal for the admiral's office.

The fouled anchor insignia is just one example of how the British navy influenced the navies around the world.

Mediterranean Mooring

In some harbours where there is no sufficient room to berth many ships alongside, ships may be obliged to berth at right-angles to a jetty, with their sterns secured to it by berthing lines and their anchors(s) laid out ahead.

This type of mooring can only be employed where there is a negligible range of tide, and is commonly used in Mediterranean ports; for this reason it is often called the Mediterranean (or Med) moor. 

The major considerations are to veer sufficient cable so that the ship can swing clear of other ships at the berth when leaving, to lay the anchors sufficiently far apart to make the ship more secure in wind, and to ensure the anchors do not foul those of other ships. 

In a shallow harbour it is recommended that a frigate veers about 4 shackles of cable on each anchor, and that cables are spanned with and included angle of about 50 degrees, so as to make the ship more secure in a wind. It is obvious, however, that to berth will not be safe if a gale blows from abeam.

If such weather is forecast it is advisable to put to sea or seek a sheltered anchor berth. Ships fitter with a single anchor can, in theory, carry out a Med moor; however, the single anchor will hold the bows steady only in benign weather conditions.