A runaway anchor has caused havoc for a ship's crew after it spun out of control and caught fire.

Video of the mishap has been viewed over 100,000 times since being uploaded overnight.

The footage shows a yellow-shirted deckhand carefully lowering the anchor when it seemed to hit a snag, only for it to suddenly gather pace.

The deckhand in charge struggles desperately to slow it down, and another joins him, as smoke starts billowing across the ship.

VIDEO: Out of control anchor catches fire on ship

The anchor spins as if in fast forward before catching fire, forcing crew to take cover.

It eventually runs of line, lost to the seas.

Source: 9news.com.au