Towing & Ship-Assist · Gear — Gob Rope
A gob rope (gog rope) or tow-pin system on a towing vessel is rigged to:
- AIncrease the towline's breaking strength
- BMeasure bollard pull
- CHold the towline down and aft to keep it from coming athwartships, helping prevent girting✓ Correct
- DLight the barge at night
Explanation
By restraining the towline's lead so it cannot swing abeam, the gob rope/tow pins reduce the heeling lever that causes girting (tripping), in which a transverse towline pull can capsize the tug.
Authority: Knight's Modern Seamanship; towing practice
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