Electric Hydraulic Anchor Capstan is a machine that can be above deck-mounted or through deck-mounted or below deck mounted, and used for anchoring operations.

It has the same functions as anchor windlass but in vertical,and more compact construction. Generally anchor capstan can be used both for anchoring and mooring operations. The capstan only has one drum to rotate during operations to wind the anchor line but not hold and store the line on the drum. By rotating, the capstan drum controls the releasing and paying out of the line attached to the anchor to realize the operations.

One advantage of using anchor capstan on a ship is that the line hauling can come from any direction, but the anchor line should approach the chain gypsy at an angle, which should not be more than 5 degrees above or 5 degrees below the center line of the gypsy.