Figure 7-16.--Method of securing messenger to towline.
pipe and the brake on the wildcat is slackened. The
Passing the Rig
chain is permitted to be hauled out until it clears the bow
The end of the towline messenger is passed as soon
chock by 6 or more feet. The brake is applied and two
as possible to the towing ship. During the approach,
towing chain stoppers are passed onto the chain.
personnel on the towing ship are stationed at intervals
While a ship is towing, an emergency release
along the deck to receive the towline messenger. Once
capability is required. The chain is veered out to the first
the messenger is received, the end is led through the
detachable link and the stoppers are passed forward of
stem chock and run forward. You may take the
the detachable link. This will provide access to the link
messenger to a capstan, but this method is much slower
in case the tow must be released.
than heaving it in by hand until a heavy strain is taken.
The final hauling of the towing hawser is usually done
Getting in Step
by the capstan. Once the end of the towing hawser is
aboard, the seizing that secures the coupling to the
When a ship is towing with synthetic line, no
messenger is cut, and the towed ship's hawser is
catenary (line droop) is required. It is not uncommon to
connected to your hawser. A stopper is bent onto the
have the hawser completely out of the water; in fact, it is
hawser; the messenger is removed; and the towlines are
desirable because it lowers the towing resistance and
hooked up but not yet deployed. The towing ship puts
prevents the line from being damaged by bottom
on turns sufficient for steerageway and continues at this
fouling or objects in the water. When heavy seas are
steady speed until the towline is completely taut. This
encountered, the rule is slow down. At this point, it is
slow speed deploys the towline off the towing ship, in a
important to keep the ships in step to lessen the surge
slow orderly fashion, until all the faked out line is off the
loads. To do this, cast off the stoppers, and adjust the
deck and the chafing chain has been hauled through the
scope to get the vessels in step. The tow must ride so
stem chock.
that it reaches the top of a crest at the same time the
towing ship does. If not, the towing ship might reach the
The added tension hauls the remaining towline off
crest while the tow is in a trough, whipping the towline
the towed ship until its anchor chain comes taut. At this
out of the water and subjecting it to unnecessary and
point, the bar is removed from the chain over the chain
7-13