Anchor watches is a phrase commonly used to describe the watches worn by sailors on night watch duties to ensure the safety of the vessel. There are several synonyms for anchor watches that one can use including nautical watches, ship watches, lookout watches, and marine watches. These synonyms still capture the essence of the original phrase while adding more specificity to the context. Nautical watches and marine watches, for instance, emphasize the connection to the sea while ship watches and lookout watches highlight the role of the sailor as a guardian of the safety of the vessel. Overall, these synonyms provide a wider range of descriptive options for this important aspect of maritime safety.