Towing and Mooring Techniques Quiz

Common Core Terms Applied to Small Boats

• RIB: Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, holding 18 (total) or 5 (lowered) personnel. Swift and Deadly are two types.
• Davits: Used for transferring loads by lowering or raising them. A type is a "Slew Arm Davit".
• Sea Painter: Maintains the RIB alongside during transit, using a "Lizard Line" to raise and lower.
• Steady Lines: Prevent the RIB from spinning during lowering and raising.

Ground Tackle

• Bit: Secures mooring lines.
• Chock: Passes mooring lines through.
• Cleat: Secures mooring lines.
• Bullnose: The foremost chock on the ship.
• Hawse Pipe: Storage for the anchor.
• Chain: Attached to the anchor to keep it in the ship or for loosening.
• Turnbuckle: Part of chain stoppers for tightening.
• Capstan: Top part of windlass for bringing line to power.
• Towing Stopper: Has H-plates to keep from turning, used for towing.
• Pelican Hook: Can be opened under strain, used to provide an instantaneous release.

Marlinespike Seamanship

• Natural Line: Made from natural fibers e.g., cotton, agave, jute, hemp, abaca, manila.
• Synthetic Line: Made from man-made fibers e.g., nylon, Kevlar, Dacron, polypropylene. Kevlar suitable for mooring.
• Small Stuff: Lines of 1¼ inches or less.
• Hawser: Any line over 5 inches used for towing, mooring, and similar operations.
• Coil: Laying the line in a circular motion.
• Fake: Laying the line in lines next to one another.
• Heaving Line: Attaches to the mooring line messenger to get the mooring line to the pier.
• Bight: The middle, loop, or bent part of a rope, distinguishable from the ends.
• Bitter End: End of a line.
• Splice: Braiding a line into itself to create an eye.
• Marlin Spike: Metal spike used by boatswain mates.
• Fid: Wooden spike used to splice lines.
• Knot: A bent line forming an eye (bowline or square).
• Hitch: Forms a turn (rolling hitch, timber hitch, marline hitch).

Towing Evolutions: Stations and Equipment

• Rig Captain: in charge, wears yellow hard hat.
• Riggers: handle lines/equipment, wear blue hard hats.
• Signalman: Stays near the towing ship to relay information.
• Capstan Operator: Operates the capstan while hauling in the hawser.
• Line Handlers: Wear hard hats and K-pok. Haul in the messenger when recovering.
• Towing Hawser: Connects towing ship to towed ship.
• Towing Messenger: Composed of three-inch and one-half inch circumference line.
• NATO Link: A special link facilitating connection to other nations' ships.
• Pelican Hook: used for instantaneous release of strain.
• Chafing Chain: Reduces chafing/wearing of the line.
• Retrieving Line: Used to retrieve the towing hawser.
• 4 X 4 Shoring (Chockblock): 4-foot 4 X 4 wood.
• Jack Stay: Line or wire to attach articles.

Safety Equipment/Tools

• Various equipment including anchor chain, chain stoppers, chain hooks, cable jacks, detachable links, messengers, 4 x 4 shoring, sledgehammers, etc.
• Detachable link tool box.
• Signal paddles.
• Portable exothermic cutting unit (PECU).

Towing Approaches

• Across Sea/Wind Approach: Diagram showing the approach.
• Downwind Crossing the "T" Approach: Diagram showing the approach.

Mooring

• Mooring Line: Used to secure a ship to a dock or another ship.
• Breast Line: Runs perpendicular to the center-line of the ship. Usually under 45-degree angle
• Forward Spring Line: Leads diagonally from the ship; controls forward and aft movement, greater than 45 degrees.
• After Spring Line: Leads diagonally from the ship; controls forward and aft movement, greater than 45 degrees.
• Bow Head Line: Lines at the bow of the ship.
• Stern Line: Lines at the stern of the ship.
• Storm Line/Wire: Determines length and energy absorbing links, for appropriate tension.

Line Handling Commands

• Hold: Don’t let go of the line.
• Check: Gradually slacken the line with strain.
• Ease: Relax the strain.
• Slack-Off: Ease out a line.
• Take-in: Take a line on board.
• Cast-Off: Release a line.
• Avast: Stop.
• Heave Around: Haul in.

Anchoring

• Anchor: Device to hold a ship or boat to the bottom.
• Detachable Link: Used in anchoring (various dimensions).

Chain Markings

• Chain links are marked for length of chain deployed (White, Red, Blue). Anchor chain marked with wire turns.

Cable Jack

• Used with larger size anchor chain.

Wildcat, Anchor Brake, Swivel Shot

• Part of anchor windlass, used to keep anchor in place after removal of stopper, components fitted to reduce twisting.

Heavy Stain, Moderate Stain, Light Strain

• Describes strain on an anchor chain when anchored.

Crane Types

• Bridge crane located on each hanger bay.

Replenishment (Unrep) Terms

• Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP): Helicopter transfer of cargo.
• Connected Replenishment (CONREP): Transfer liquid or solid cargo through rigging.

Replenishment Operations

• Replenishment Course: Responsible for the course and speed of the operation.
• Replenishment Speed: Speeds between 12-16 knots are advisable.
• Control Ship/Delivery Ship: (Delivery Ship is normally the control ship.)

Underway Replenishment

• Liquid Cargo Transfer Station: (CONREP/STREAM): Combines deck area and equipment for liquid transfers.
• Solid Cargo Transfer Station: (CONREP): Combines deck area and equipment for solid/containerized cargo.
• Inhaul Line: Line used to retrieve equipment during underway replenishment.
• Out-haul Line: Line used to bring equipment across during underway replenishment.
• Messenger: Line used to move equipment, spanning distance.
• Phone/Distance Line: Visual and sound communication during underway replenishment.
• Riding Line: Fiber rope lines used to maintain rigidity in hoses.
• Jigger Tackle: Tackle for handling the line, to prevent tension in hoses.
• Chain Stopper: Used to secure and remove chain strain.
• Long/Short Strap: Used in double probe rigs when dis-connecting a messenger.
• Span Wire: Wire rope used in cargo transfer.
• High Line: Wire rope used for cargo transfer.
• Probe/Robb Coupling: Special coupling/attachment for probe.

Standard/Emergency Breakaway

• Emergency breakaway is a faster and more ordered procedure than standard breakaway.

Abandon Ship

• Who orders abandon ship: Commanding officer (CO) or senior line officer in their absence.
• Words to be passed: Location, direction, whether friendly/hostile force, location, depth, water temp, currents
• Crew Actions: Evacuate from specified areas depending on lifeboat assignments
• Life Boats: Used for evacuating personnel.

Rib (Rigid Inflatable Boat) Survival Equipment

• Various items like oars, rescue lines, tarps, bailers, batteries, blankets, first aid kits, flashlights, food packets, knives, mirrors, markers, water, whistles, life rafts (25-person capacity).

MK7 Inflatable Life Raft Survival Gear

• Various items within the containers of the life rafts.

Deploying Life Rafts

• Automatic hydrostatic activation, striking button.
• Lashing cutting, releasing/inflating the life rafts.

Station-to-station phone line

• Facilitates communications between transfer stations.

Replenishment Checklist

• Ensures correct procedures and personnel are in place before transfer.

Line-Throwing Gun

• Used during underway transfers to pass nylon lines.

Fair-Lead Block

• 12-inch wood block to guide the line.

Snatch Block

• Described and used to transfer cargo.