Towing & Ship-Assist · Gear — Pennant and Bridle
In a conventional towing rig, the bridle (two legs to the towed vessel) is used to:
- AIncrease towline weight
- BDistribute the towing load to two points and improve directional stability of the tow✓ Correct
- CReplace the towing winch
- DMark the tow at night
Explanation
The bridle's two legs spread the load across two strong points on the tow and help keep it tracking straight behind the tug. A fishplate/ring connects the bridle to the towing pennant and main hawser.
Authority: Knight's Modern Seamanship; towing gear
Practice the full Towing & Ship-Assist bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2190 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related Towing & Ship-Assist questions
- Towing Lights
For the purpose of the towing light rules, the 'length of the tow' is measured from the:
- Towing Lights
A power-driven vessel towing astern, with a tow 200 meters or less in length, exhibits which lights in addition to sidelights and a sternlight?
- Towing Lights
When the length of the tow astern exceeds 200 meters, the towing vessel displays:
- Towing Lights
By day, when the length of a tow exceeds 200 meters, the towing vessel and the vessel being towed must each exhibit:
- Towing Lights
The yellow towing light required of a vessel towing astern is located:
- Towing Lights
A vessel or object being towed astern (and not a composite or pushed unit) normally exhibits: