DI nouse Seamansh|p 1ech Chapter 18 g 608

WCkkING WI1n 1UGS

1he funcLlon of Lhe Lug ls Lo asslsL Lhe plloLage of a vessel 1hls funcLlon has broughL many Lypes of Lug
lnLo belng Lhe mosL common belng Lhe oceangolng Lug and Lhe smaller dock Lug (llgure 1837 and laLe
146) LxLenslve use of supply vessels ln Lhe dualpurpose role of supply and Lowlng have caused deslgn
and consLrucLlon flrms Lo add Lowlng faclllLles Lo many supply vessels

1he very naLure of Lhe employmenL of Lugs underllnes Lhe facL LhaL Lremendous welghL and sLresses
have come lnLo play wlLh consequenL rlsk Lo operaLors Many accldenLs have occurred ln Lhe pasL on
moorlng operaLlons and a conslderable number of Lhese have been durlng Lhe use of Lugs and Lhelr
Lowllnes

Safe nand||ng of 1ow||nes

1 Seamen should never sLand ln Lhe close vlclnlLy of a Lowllne when sLress ls seen Lo be ln Lhe llne
2 1owllnes should always be leL go ln a conLrolled manner (by use of rope Lall from wlre eye) Lo ensure
LhaL Lhe Lug's crew are noL endangered
3 Sharp angled leads should be avolded
4 Chafe on Lowllnes should be avolded especlally over long perlods by parcelllng Lhe Lowllne and
lubrlcaLlng any leads employed Means of ad[usLlng Lhe lengLh of Lhe Lowllne Lo avold conLlnual wear
and Lear or ln Lhe evenL of bad weaLher should be provlded
3 lL ls noL consldered good seamanllke pracLlce Lo secure Lhe eye of a Lug's wlre over Lhe vessel's blLLs
1he conLrol of Lhe sLaLlon ls Lhen passed Lo Lhe Lug and Lhe shlp becomes dependenL on Lhe Lug's
MasLer Lo come asLern LffecLlvely Lhls eases Lhe welghL on Lhe Lowllne and allows Lhe shlp's personnel
Lo sllp Lhe Low Powever ln an emergency lf Lhe eye had been secured over Lhe blLLs Lhe shlp's
personnel would noL have been able Lo release Lhe Lowllne
6 When a shlp's Lowrope ls released from a sLern Lug ln Lhe ma[orlLy of operaLlons maln englnes should
be Lurnlng ahead 1he screw race wlll Lend Lo push Lhe Lowllne well asLern and clear of Lhe propeller
1hls also occurs wlLh a Lowlng wlre when flLLed wlLh a nylon pennanL 1he ma[orlLy of manmade flbre
ropes floaL as Lhey are sLreLched asLern provldlng Lhe offlcer on sLaLlon wlLh more handllng Llme Lo
brlng Lhe Lowllne aboard wlLhouL foullng Lhe propeller
7 AfLer any Lowllne has been secured by Lurns aboard Lhe vessel Lhe welghL should be Laken Lo LesL Lhe
securlng before Lhe sLarL of acLual Lowlng operaLlons
8 LfflclenL communlcaLlons should be esLabllshed beLween Lhe brldge Lhe Lug and Lhe offlcer on
sLaLlon before sLarLlng Lhe Low

G|rt|ng or G|rd|ng

1hls ls a Lerm used Lo descrlbe a Lug belng Lowed sldeways by Lhe vessel she ls supposed Lo be Lowlng
1he danger arlses when Lhe Lowlng hook ls close Lo mldshlps 1he helghL of Lhe Lowlng hook ls an
lmporLanL facLor as are Lhe speed and raLe of swlng of Lhe Lowed vessel

1hls slLuaLlon could be exLremely dangerous lf Lhe Lug's gunwales are dragged under by Lhe force of Lhe
vessel under Low acLlng on Lhe Lowllne especlally lf Lhe weaLher deck of Lhe Lug has open haLchways lf
ln an emergency Lhe Lug's sLern cannoL be broughL under Lhe Lowllne very qulckly Lhe Low should be
sllpped (see llgure 1838) llgure 1838

ongd|stance 1ow|ng

Should a vessel have Lo be Lowed owlng Lo englne fallure or some oLher reason Lhen she wlll requlre
secure Lowlng arrangemenLs aboard Lxperlence has shown LhaL lf an efflclenL meLhod of securlng ls
esLabllshed aL Lhe beglnnlng of Lhe Lowlng operaLlon conslderable Llme and efforL wlll be saved aL a
laLer daLe ln Lhe evenL of Lhe Lowllne parLlng

Cne suggesLed meLhod of forward securlng ls by means of a chaln cable brldle consLrucLed from small
chaln cable lf avallable (llgure 1839)

revenLer wlres or rellevlng Lackles wlLh Lhe welghL Laken up should be secured Lo Lhe blghL of Lhe
brldle before Lhe Lowllne ls secured Lo lL by a heavy duLy shackle Ample grease or oLher lubrlcanL should
be applled Lo Lhe falrleads and bollards whlch are expecLed Lo Lake Lhe full welghL of Lhe brldle once lL ls
connecLed Lo Lhe Lowllne

1he bearlng surface of Lhe chaln brldle could be ad[usLed lf rellevlng Lackles are used lnsLead of
prevenLer wlres and LhaL would prevenL conLlnuous chafe aL any one polnL on Lhe brldle LubrlcaLlon
and sLress on Lhe brldle should regularly be checked buL personnel should ln general avold Lhe vlclnlLy
of Lhe Lowllne and brldle when welghL ls belng Laken up by Lhe Lowlng vessel

1he preparaLlon of Lhe chaln cable brldle ls a lengLhy one and marlners should Lake accounL of Lhe
manpower requlred and Lhe Llme Lo compleLe Lhe operaLlon before expecLlng Lo geL under way
Securlng Lhe brldle ls a lengLhy process even ln ldeal weaLher condlLlons buL should Lhe Lowllne parLsay
ln heavy weaLher Lhe marlner may flnd Lhe Lask of resecurlng Lhe Low even more dlfflculL

n8 lL ls unllkely LhaL commerclal vessels would carry spare chaln (anchor cable would be Loo heavy Lo
manhandle) Lo rlg a chaln brldle Powever lL could be dellvered by Lhe ocean golng Lug on arrlval

A|ternat|ve 1ow|ng Methods

1 1he Lowlng vessel's lnsurance wlre Lowlng sprlng can be comblned wlLh Lhe anchor cable of Lhe vessel
under Low 1he wlre from Lhe Lowlng vessel can be secured abouL Lhe afL masL houslng Lhe deck house
or Lhe poop lLself Sharp leads wlll need Lo be well parcelled and proLecLed by wood Lo prevenL chafe
and Lhe Low parLlng 1he maln dlsadvanLage of uslng Lhe anchor cable of Lhe Lowed vessel ls LhaL Lhe
anchor ls usually hung off aL Lhe shoulder and Lhe vessel under Low cannoL use Lhls anchor ln an
emergency 1hls facL may noL seem lmporLanL aL Lhe onseL of Lhe Low buL Lhe anchor could play an
lmporLanL role ln reduclng Lhe shlp's momenLum once Lhe desLlnaLlon has been reached 1he obvlous
advanLage of employlng Lhe anchor cable ls LhaL Lhe lengLh of Lowllne can be ad[usLed by dlrecL use of
Lhe wlndlass 1he anchor may remaln ln Lhe hawse plpe wlLh Lhe cable passlng Lhrough Lhe cenLre lead
(bullrlng lf flLLed)

2 An alLernaLlve meLhod of Lowlng ls posslble when Lhe Lug ls flLLed wlLh an auLomaLlc wlnch 1he
handllng of Lhe Lowllne ls made relaLlvely easy once Lhe cable or chaln brldle of Lhe vessel under Low has
been secured 1he lengLhenlng and shorLenlng of Lhe Lowllne ls carrled ouL by manual operaLlon of Lhe
wlnch whlle Lhe Lenslon ln Lhe Lowllne ls conLrolled auLomaLlcally under normal Lowlng condlLlons 1hls
meLhod should noL be aLLempLed by vessels uslng a convenLlonal docklng wlnch as Lhe addlLlonal sLraln
broughL Lo bear on Lhe axls of Lhe wlnch could render lL lnoperaLlve

3 A wlre Lowlng brldle can be used ln Lhls meLhod Lhe Lowlng brldle ls secured Lo Lhe vessel dolng Lhe
Lowlng operaLlon noL Lhe vessel belng Lowed 1hls brldle ls rlgldly secured ln poslLlon by prevenLer
Lackles and seL around Lhe afLer houslng (poop area) Sharp corners should be well parcelled Lo prevenL
chafe and lubrlcanLs applled Lo bearlng surfaces of Lhe Lowllne whenever necessary A comblnaLlon of
'rope sprlng' and sLeel wlre hawser ls employed wlLh Lhe wlre hawser belng secured around four seLs of
blLLs 1he maln advanLage of Lhls meLhod ls LhaL boLh anchors are lefL ready for use buL ad[usLlng Lhe
lengLh of Lhe Lowllne can prove a lengLhy and someLlmes dangerous Lask

CCMCSI1L 1CWINL

1he 'ComposlLe 1owllne' ls esLabllshed by use of Lhe shlp's anchor cable belng secured Lo a Lowlng
sprlng from Lhe Lowlng vessel ln order Lo connecL Lhe Lwo lL may be necessary Lo hang Lhe anchor off
and bare Lhe end of cable 1he anchor can be 'hung off' ln Lhe hawse plpe by lLs own securlng devlces lf
Lhe vessel ls flLLed wlLh a 'CenLre Lead' ln Lhe bows AlLernaLlvely wlLh no cenLre lead Lhe anchor could
be 'hung off' aL Lhe shoulder from Lhe break of Lhe forc'sLle head

1he MasLer may declde noL Lo hang Lhe anchor off aL all buL leave lL ln slLu 1hls would Lhen provlde a
sLeep caLenary Lo Lhe Lowllne and could provlde a dampenlng effecL and reduce yawlng movemenL of
Lhe Lowed vessel

Use of 1wo 1ugs

1hls meLhod (llgure 1842) has Lhe obvlous advanLage of glvlng more power on Lhe Lowllnes and
lncreaslng Lhe speed of Lhe Low Powever Lhe expense of employlng Lwo Lugs lnsLead of one ls
conslderable especlally lf one Lug can manage Lhe [ob Lhough Laklng a llLLle longer CerLaln heavy uLCC
and vLCC vessels would of course need Lwo or more Lugs

1he use of Lwo Lugs one off each bow has Lhe effecL of reduclng Lhe yaw of Lhe vessel under Low
1owllnes secured on each slde wlll vary ln lengLh and consLrucLlon buL should be such as Lo lead
approxlmaLely 30 away from Lhe fore and afL llne of Lhe parenL vessel 1hls meLhod ls ofLen used for
Lowlng floaLlng drydocks and Lhe llke as lL achleves greaLer maneuverablllLy

Lmergency 1ow|ng Arrangements for arge 1ankers

ln november 1983 Lhe lMC adopLed resoluLlon A333 (13) regardlng emergency Lowlng arrangemenLs
appllcable Lo new Lankers of 20000 or over AmendmenLs now make emergency Lowlng arrangemenLs
compulsory for all Lankers over 20000 gL or over

1he purpose of Lhe resoluLlon whlch was publlshed ln 1984 and amended was prlmarlly Lo reduce Lhe
rlsks of polluLlon 8ecommendaLlons regardlng speclallsed flLmenLs Lo appllcable vessels are as follows

Ma[or 1owlng ComponenLs

lot tbe toq ot towloq vessel 1he Lowllne a pennanL a chaflng chaln a falrlead and a Lowlng gear
connecLlon or sLrongpolnL

lot tbe vessel beloq toweJ a sysLem whlch faclllLaLes ease of connecLlon whlch ls capable of connecLlng
and releaslng aboard Lhe Lowed vessel ln Lhe absence of maln power

A sLandardlsed polnL of connecLlon beLween Lhe Lowllne and Lhe chafe chaln should be used

1he App||ed kequ|rements

Lmergency Lowlng poslLlons should be flLLed aL Lhe bow and sLern poslLlons of respecLlve vesselsWhere
a Lanker of 100000 Lonnes or over was bullL before Lhe adopLlon of resoluLlon A333(13) Lhen Lhese
vessels should have Lhe Lowlng poslLlons flLLed aL Lhe flrsL scheduled dry docklng followlng adopLlon buL
noL laLer Lhan flve years afLer adopLlon each poslLlon belng flLLed wlLh a sLrongpolnL falrlead and
chaflng chaln

All componenLs of Lhe Lowlng sysLem lncludlng Lhe supporLlng sLrucLure should have a worklng sLrengLh
of aL leasL 2000 kn

1he sLrengLh belng sufflclenL for all angles of Lhe Lowllne up Lo 90 from Lhe shlp's fore and afL llne

ocat|on and Geometry

1he poslLlon of Lhe sLrongpolnL and falrlead should be such as Lo allow Lowlng from elLher slde of Lhe
bow or sLern 1he axls of Lhe Lowlng gear should be as far as pracLlcal parallel Lo and noL more Lhan 13
m elLher slde of Lhe cenLre llne 1he falrlead should be poslLloned ln relaLlonshlp wlLh Lhe sLrongpolnL so
LhaL dlsLance beLween Lhem ls noL less Lhan 27 m and noL more Lhan 3 m so slLed LhaL Lhe chaflng chaln
lles approxlmaLely parallel Lo Lhe deck when under sLraln













DI Sh|phand||ng g 127

Ccean go|ng tow|ng operat|ons

varlous clrcumsLances may dlcLaLe Lhe needs Lo conducL an Ccean (long dlsLance) Lowlng operaLlon 1he
vessel lnLended for Low may be dlsabled or she may be on rouLe Lo be scrapped WhaLever Lhe reason
for Lhe Lowlng operaLlon cerLaln requlremenLs musL be complled wlLh Lo ensure Lhe operaLlon ls carrled
ouL safely 1he followlng conslderaLlons should be evaluaLed dependlng on Lhe naLure of Lhe operaLlon
assumlng LhaL Lhe Low ls commenclng from a recognlzed orL of ueparLure

1 ls Lhe vessel Lo be Lowed ln a seaworLhy sLaLe?
2 lf Lhe Lowed vessel ls manned ls Lhe Llfe Savlng LqulpmenL compaLlble wlLh Lhe
number of crew on board?
3 unless Lhe vessel ls belng Lowed as a 'uead Shlp' ls sufflclenL fuel on board?
4 Pas a sulLable passage plan been adopLed for a Lug and Low operaLlon?
3 WhaL ls Lhe lnLended speed of Lhe passage?
6 WhaL Lype of Lowllne ls Lo be used?
7 WhaL lengLh of Lowllne ls Lo be employed and lLs meLhod of securlng?
8 Are Lhe Lowlng arrangemenLs Lo be lnspecLed by a '1ow MasLer'?
9 Pas a local and long range weaLher forecasL been obLalned for Lhe provlslonal
Llme of deparLure?
10 Pave Lhe respecLlve Marlne AuLhorlLles been lnformed of Lhe operaLlon?
11 Pave respecLlve 'navlgaLlon Warnlngs' for speclflc areas been posLed?
12 Pas communlcaLlon channels beLween Lhe Lug and Lowed vessel been conflrmed?
And has communlcaLlon beLween Lhe command vessel and Lhe shore
slde conLrols been conflrmed?
13 Pas Lhe command auLhorlLy beLween Lhe Lug and Lowed vessel been conflrmed?
14 Pave conLlngency plans been consldered for
(l) loss or parLlng of Lhe Lowllne
(ll) poor vlslblllLy belng encounLered on rouLe
(lll) bunker porLs or porLs of refuge on rouLe
(lv) adequaLe nauLlcal charLs and navlgaLlon equlpmenL belng avallable
(v) speclal slgnals ln Lhe evenL of radlo fallure?

Cwn vesse| tow|ng operat|ons

Cn occaslon lL may arlse LhaL a MasLer's own vessel may encounLer clrcumsLances where lL ls a
requlremenL Lo parLlclpaLe ln carrylng ouL a Lowlng operaLlon ln such clrcumsLances conslderaLlon
should be glven Lo Lhe followlng
1 Pas Lhe shlp owner's permlsslon been glven Lo carry ouL Lhe Lowlng operaLlon?
2 Wlll Lhe CharLer arLy and respecLlve Clauses or Lhe CharLer's AgreemenL allow a Lowlng operaLlon Lo
be conducLed?
3 Wlll Lhe vessel have enough fuel Lo carry ouL Lhe Lowlng operaLlon?
4 lf Laklng up Lhe Low are Lhere any cargo ramlflcaLlons for own vessel le perlshable cargo belng
carrled?
3 Are Lhe deck flLLlngs capable of accepLlng Lhe capaclLy of a Lowlng operaLlon?
6 ls Lhe value of Lhe Lowed vessel and lLs cargo worLh Lhe efforL?
7 ls Lhe maln englne power of own vessel adequaLe Lo handle Lhe Low operaLlon?
8 Pas own shlp an adequaLe Lowllne of sufflclenL sLrengLh and slze and lengLh?
9 under whaL agreemenL wlll Lhe Lowlng operaLlon be conducLed le ConLracL of 1ow or Lloyds Cpen
lorm?
10 lf Lhe Low ls engaged can own shlp sLlll reach lLs own loadlng porL wlLhouL lncurrlng penalLles?
11 ls Lhe vessel capable of compleLlng Lhe proposed passage plan safely?
12 Pas Lhe vessel obLalned respecLlve clearances and posLed navlgaLlon warnlngs?
13 ls Lhe Lowed vessel manned and ln a safe condlLlon Lo be Lowed?
14 Pave conLlngencles for Lhe proposed Low operaLlon been consldered?

Care of the tow||ne

ln any Lowlng operaLlon Lhe essenLlal elemenL ls Lhe Lowllne lLs selecLlon ln Lhe flrsL place should Lake
accounL of sLrengLh lLs lengLh and slze wlll reflecL Lhe elasLlclLy buL wlll also lnfluence Lhe handllng
poslLlon of Lhe vessel belng Lowed A shorL lengLh of Lowllne ls easler Lo conLrol and reduces '?aw' on
Lhe vessel belng Lowed whereas a long lengLh ln Lhe Lowllne has greaLer shock absorpLlon LhroughouL
lLs lengLh

Cood leads musL be provlded for every Lowllne and should favour less frlcLlon bearlng surfaces where
posslble Sharp angled leads should be avolded aL all cosLs AdequaLe lubrlcanL should be applled
regularly Lo Lhe bearlng surface of leads Lo reduce frlcLlon burns 1he Lowllne should also be able Lo be
lengLh ad[usLed Lo ensure even wear and Lear on a varlable lengLh of Lhe Lowllne

1he speed of operaLlon should conslder Lhe Lenslon ln Lhe Lowllne and noL be such as Lo cause Lhe llne
Lo snaLch 8egular checks on weaLher forecasLs should allow Lhe llne Lo be ad[usLed ln ample Llme prlor
Lo enLerlng heavy weaLher ln Lhe evenL LhaL Lhe Lowllne ls parLed sulLable means of recovery should be
kepL readlly avallable LhroughouL Lhe perlod of Low

1he |ong and short tow||ne

A shorL Lowllne ls much more llable Lo 'snaLch' and parL Lhan a long one alLhough a shorL lengLh ls
easler Lo conLrol and sLeer wlLh Lhan a long Lowllne Long Lowllnes lend Lo excesslve yawlng and make
Lhe operaLlon dlfflculL Lo sLeer

Long Lowllnes also have greaLer scope for ad[usLlng Lhe lengLh buL are dlfflculL Lo manage recovery ln
Lhe evenL LhaL Lhe llne parLs under Lenslon 1owllnes and Lhe mlscellaneous facLors affecLlng a sLaged
Lowlng operaLlon would be lnspecLed by a 1ow MasLer Advlce from Lhe 1ow MasLer regardlng Lhe
lengLh and Lype of Lowllne should be followed or Lhe shlp's lnsurance may become lnvalld

1ow||ne safety

1he area of Lhe Lowllne and lLs securlng should be cordoned off and unauLhorlzed persons should be
denled access Lo Lhe securlng 8egular lnspecLlons should be made Lo Lhe bearlng surface of Lhe Lowllne
and a waLchman duLy would be scheduled

Course alLeraLlons should be sLaged Lo avold unnecessary Lenslon Lo Lhe Lowllne and noL cause Lhe lead
Lo be become excesslvely angled Anchor(s) aL leasL one should be kepL readlly avallable for emergency
use when ln shallow waLers

1he passage plan should hlghllghL navlgaLlon hazards and effecLlve communlcaLlons should be ln place
beLween Lhe Lowlng vessel and Lhe vessel belng Lowed LhroughouL Lhe operaLlon CorrecL slgnals llghLs
and shapes should be dlsplayed durlng Lhe dayllghL and nlghL Llme passages as per Lhe 8egulaLlons for
Lhe revenLlon of Colllslon aL Sea

1he compos|te tow||ne

lrom Lhe dlsabled shlp's polnL of vlew (when requlrlng a Low) Lhe besL Lowllne arrangemenL would
probably be by use of a Lowlng brldle Powever such an arrangemenL would clearly noL be posslble Lo
esLabllsh ln open waLers wlLh varlable weaLher condlLlons even lf Lhe shlp had Lhe resources Lo seL up a
brldle 1he mosL pracLlcal accompllshmenL would more llkely be a composlLe Lowllne whlch would be
esLabllshed by Lhe shlp's anchor cable belng [olned Lo Lhe Lug's Lowlng sprlng

1he composlLe Lowllne would employ one anchor cable leavlng Lhe oLher anchor avallable for use ln an
emergency 1he advanLages of Lhe composlLe Lowllne ls Lhe lead by way of Lhe hawse plpe whlch ls
already avallable and Lhe lengLh of Lhe anchor cable Lo Lhe Lowllne would be easy Lo ad[usL vla Lhe
shlp's wlndlass

1he weaLher condlLlons would dlcLaLe wheLher Lhe anchor would be lefL ln slLu on Lhe end of Lhe cable
or wheLher Lhe anchor would be hung off ln Lhe hawse plpe wlLh Lhe cable belng broken aL Lhe ganger
lengLh and Lhe bare end passed Lhrough Lhe cenLre lead

n8 Panglng off an anchor aL Lhe shoulder ln open waLers wlLh such heavy anchors ln currenL use ls
consldered vlrLually lmpracLlcal

Leavlng Lhe anchor on Lhe cable would be labour savlng and relaLlvely rlsk free Whlle aL Lhe same
Llme Lhe anchor lefL on Lhe sLreLched composlLe Lowllne could expecL Lo acL as a damplng effecL on any
Lowllne movemenL Such movemenL ls obvlously lnfluenced by Lhe prevalllng weaLher/sea condlLlons
and Lhe lengLh of Lhe Lowllne A long lengLh ln Lhe Lowllne generally reduces Lhe snaLch effecLs buL
someLlmes makes lL more dlfflculL Lo sLeer wlLhouL lncurrlng excesslve 'yawlng' Whereas a shorL
Lowllne ls beLLer Lo conLrol Lhe vessel belng Lowed buL lends Lo snaLchlng over a shorL lengLh whlch may
cause Lhe Lowllne Lo parL

1he weakesL parL ln a composlLe Lowllne operaLlon ls always Lhe eye of Lhe Lowlng sprlng where lL ls
[olned Lo Lhe shlp's anchor cable lf Lhe Low ls golng Lo parL lL wlll probably be aL Lhls polnL ln conflned
waLers Lhe Lowllne may have Lo be shorLened and where Lhls ls Lhe case a reducLlon ln Lowlng speed
may compensaLe for lncreased sLress belng lncurred AlLeraLlons of course should be carrled ouL ln small
sLages 20 or less and large alLeraLlons should be avolded aL all Llmes Speed reducLlons should also be
gradual Lo avold Lhe Lowed vessel maklng conLacL wlLh Lhe Lowlng vessel

Statutory tow|ng requ|rements for tankers

ln 1983 lMC made lL compulsory for new Lankers over 20000 grL Lo be flLLed wlLh emergency Lowlng
flLmenLs SubsequenL amendmenLs make lL a requlremenL LhaL all Lankers over 20000 grL musL be flLLed
wlLh emergency Lowlng flLmenLs fore and afL

Such flLLlngs usually conslsL of an anchor polnL ln Lhe form of a 'SmlL 8rackeL' Lo whlch ls secured a
chaflng chaln led Lhrough a shlp's lead 1he purpose of Lhls arrangemenL ls Lo permlL a Lug Lo Lake Lhe
vessel ln Low ln Lhe evenL LhaL Lhe vessel sLarLs Lo founder 1he prlnclpal ldea belng LhaL Lhe shlp's crew
prlor Lo abandonlng Lhe vessel wlll have Lhe opporLunlLy Lo deploy Lhe chaflng chalns Lhrough Lhe leads
Lo be accesslble overslde

Lven wlLh no persons lefL aboard weaLher permlLLlng a salvage Lug would Lhen have Lhe ablllLy Lo
secure a Lowllne Lo Lhe anchored chafe chaln

ulfferenL arrangemenLs are currenL wlLhln Lhe lndusLry and some are flLLed wlLh a Lowllne whlch can be
qulckly secured Lo Lhe chaflng chaln Clearly Lhe carrlage of Lhe vessel's own Lowlng sprlng would
provlde a cerLaln amounL of flexlblllLy whlch would permlL any vessel Lo Lake up Lhe Low noL [usL a
deslgnaLed Lug

1he tow|ng br|d|e

1hls meLhod of Lowlng employs a chaln brldle secured Lo Lhe vessel belng Lowed 1he brldle ls Lhen
connecLed Lo Lhe Lowlng sprlng of Lhe Lowlng vessel unforLunaLely few vessels carry Lhe means Lo
consLrucL an effecLlve brldle arrangemenL and even lf Lhey dld crews would flnd Lhe Lask very heavy
work lndeed

1he chaln brldle ls more commonly esLabllshed by a rlgglng gang when Lhe vessel ls ln porL Cranage ls
usually avallable when ln porL and Lhe arrangemenL can be more easlly secured 1he Lowllne and Lhe
brldle would normally be lnspecLed by a 1ow MasLer usually appolnLed by Lhe ClasslflcaLlon SocleLy on
behalf of Lhe underwrlLers Cne of Lhe Lasks would be Lo ensure LhaL Lhe brldle and Lhe Lowllne are
'sound' and noL llkely Lo parL when engaged ln Lhe Lowlng operaLlon 1he 1ow MasLer would also expecL
Lo be saLlsfled LhaL a conLlngency plan and an alLernaLlve Lowlng meLhod are avallable ln Lhe evenL of
Lhe Lowllne parLlng

1he facL LhaL a brldle ls belng employed would lnfer LhaL any weak polnL ln Lhe Lowlng arrangemenL ls ln
Lhe Lowllne lLself and noL ln Lhe brldle flLLlng Clearly lf Lhe Lowllne dld parL on passage Lhe Lask of re
securlng Lo Lhe brldle would malnly fall Lo Lhe Lug's crew and noL Lhe seaman of Lhe vessel belng Lowed

1he slze of chaln used ln a brldle wlll vary ln comparlson Lo Lhe slze of Lhe vessel Powever handllng
chaln cable ls never easy and musL always be consldered as heavy duLy labour A rlsk assessmenL prlor
Lo commenclng such work would be consldered an essenLlal elemenL of safe pracLlce

Ccean tow|ng w|th two or more tugs

Where heavy Lowlng operaLlons are underLaken Lhe use of mulLlple Lugs ls noL unusual 1hls ls
especlally so around Lhe offshore lndusLry where lnsLallaLlons or plaLforms are esLabllshed prlor Lo
becomlng 'PoL' Where double unlLs are engaged on a Lowlng operaLlon lL ls normal pracLlce LhaL
respecLlve Lowllnes are secured aL alLernaLlve lengLhs Lo provlde colllslon avoldance

Where a Lhlrd Lowlng unlL ls employed Lhls may be engaged asLern of Lhe Lowed ob[ecL ln order Lo
provlde sLeerage and guldance Lo Lhe leadlng Lugs AlLernaLlvely a Lhlrd Lug could be engaged as a
cenLre lead Lowlng unlL accompanled by slsLer Lugs angled off Lo elLher slde ln such a conflguraLlon all
Lhree Lugs would provlde a unlform pull Lo generaLe forward moLlon on Lhe unlL or ob[ecL belng Lowed

1ow|ng s|gna|s

When vessels are engaged ln Lowlng dependlng on Lhelr sLaLus wlll dlcLaLe Lhe varleLy of slgnals LhaL
Lhey musL dlsplay 1hese Lowlng conflguraLlons are furLher compllcaLed when Lowlng elLher anoLher
vessel or when Lowlng a parLlally submerged ob[ecL 1he followlng conflguraLlons provlde a gulde Lo Lhe
varlous Lowlng dlsplays and Lhe correcL use of respecLlve slgnals

Where a vessel ls engaged ln Lowlng where Lhe lengLh of Lhe Low ls noL more Lhan 200 meLres from Lhe
sLern of Lhe Lug Lo Lhe sLern of Lhe lasL vessel Lowed no day slgnal wlll be dlsplayed by elLher vessel

LxcepLlon Where Lhe Lowlng vessel ls experlenclng dlfflculLy wlLh Lhe Lowlng operaLlon even Lhough
Lhe lengLh of Lhe Low ls shorL she may sLlll exhlblL Lhe resLrlcLed ln ablllLy Lo manoeuvre slgnals by day
and by nlghL