Towing & Ship-Assist · Ship-Assist — Escort Towline
During a high-speed escort, the assist tug's towline is normally made fast and tended so that the tug can:
- ABe cast off and abandoned
- BTake the ship's full weight at all times
- CRemain permanently slack and unused
- DDrop instantly into the indirect (or transverse-arrest) mode to apply steering/braking force if the ship loses control✓ Correct
Explanation
In escort work the tug runs connected but with the line tended; if the escorted ship loses steering or propulsion, the tug swings to present its hull at an angle (indirect mode), generating large hydrodynamic steering and braking forces. The rig and crew must be ready to take the load suddenly.
Authority: Escort towing references
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