Towing & Ship-Assist · Towline — Pickup / Streaming

When streaming (paying out) a towline to a barge in open water, the crew's greatest danger is:

Explanation

A line running out under tension can take a sudden surge; anyone standing in a bight (loop) or in the recoil/snap-back zone can be caught and seriously injured or swept overboard. Deck crew must keep clear of bights and the line's run, and never straddle a working line.

Authority: Towing safety references; 46 CFR Subchapter M (Health & Safety)

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