Abstract: An elongate shank has a trailing end adapted to be secured to an anchor. A slide sleeve ensleeves the shank, is slideable along its extent, and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A leading end of the shank is capped to prevent slide sleeve disengagement. A radially extending apertured tab is secured to the slide sleeve. A continuous loop member adapted to be engaged by an anchor chain extends through the aperture. A vessel operator places tension on the anchor chain and passes over the anchor. The slide sleeve rotates about the longitudinal axis of the shank and slides along the length of the shank until stopped by the cap. The shank rotates to follow the path of travel of the vessel and the anchor is released from any obstacle to which it may be engaged.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products are disclosed for interfacing a client based, multi-threaded API that is written in a first programming language (such as JAVA) with a server based, single-thread API that is written in a second programming language (such as C or C++). The invention uses an object factory to generate a server object for each client. Programmed-method invocations performed on logical objects at the client are communicated to the server object. The server object processes the programmed-method invocation to perform the requested service such as providing network management information services.