Towing & Ship-Assist · Emergencies
If the towline parts in open water, the immediate priorities are to:
- AContinue on course and report it later
- BAccount for crew safety, maneuver clear of the now-drifting tow, and prepare to re-establish the tow or stand by✓ Correct
- CAnchor the tug immediately regardless of depth
- DAbandon the tow
Explanation
A parted towline can whip dangerously and the freed tow becomes a drifting hazard. Ensure no one is in the bight or struck by recoil, maneuver clear, mark/track the tow, and prepare to pass a new line or stand by — broadcasting a warning if the drifting tow endangers others.
Authority: Towing seamanship; emergency response
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