Towing & Ship-Assist · Operations — Connecting in a Seaway
When passing a towline to a tow in a seaway, the crew first passes a lighter line called a:
- ABridle
- BRatchet
- CFishplate
- DMessenger (heaving line/messenger) to haul the heavier pennant and hawser across✓ Correct
Explanation
A heaving line or messenger is passed first, then used to haul over progressively heavier gear (pennant, then the main hawser). This avoids handling the full-weight towline directly across the gap in a seaway.
Authority: Knight's Modern Seamanship; line handling
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