Towing & Ship-Assist · Gear & Makeup
When entering shallow water with a tow on a long hawser, the towing vessel should generally:
- APay out more wire to increase catenary
- BShorten the tow to keep the hawser and tow under control and off the bottom✓ Correct
- CCast off the tow entirely
- DIncrease speed to plane the barge
Explanation
In shallow or restricted water the deep catenary of a long hawser can drag the bottom and the long tow becomes hard to control. The standard practice is to shorten up the tow for better control, accepting the reduced shock-absorbing catenary.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9)
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