An anchor for clamping a handling system deadline and controlled by an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a gearbox coupled to an electric motor. The anchor may generally operate using a pivoting clamping mechanism, wherein the deadline is held between a static clamp plate and a pivoting clamp plate. The pivoting clamp plate may pivot at a pivot point arranged between the two plates. A bolt may be arranged through an opening in each of the clamp plates. A first end of the bolt may extend beyond an outer surface of the pivoting clamp plate and couple to an end block. At a second end, the bolt may extend beyond an outer surface of the static clamp plate and couple to the actuator. As a linear force is applied to the bolt by the actuator, the bolt may pull the pivoting clamp plate toward the static clamp plate.