Towing & Ship-Assist · Maneuvering — Backing a Tow
A conventional single-screw towboat backing down with a tow astern has limited control because:
- AThe tow steers itself perfectly
- BBacking increases towline catenary safely
- CThe tow tends to follow unpredictably and the tug loses steering authority over it when sternway is established✓ Correct
- DThe rudder works better astern
Explanation
When towing astern, going astern slackens and fouls the towline and the tug cannot effectively steer the tow. Stopping or controlling a tow is generally done by maneuvering ahead/around rather than backing against the hawser.
Authority: Shiphandling practice; towing
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
- Maneuvering — Backing a Tow
A major limitation of a long made-up push tow is that when backing (reversing), the tow:
- 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: