5 TOWING TECHNIQUES Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 67 Regulations & Policy ....................................................................................................................... 67 Maritime Regulations.................................................................................................................. 67 Lights..................................................................................................................................... 68 Lights..................................................................................................................................... 68 Shapes .................................................................................................................................. 68 Coastguard Policy ...................................................................................................................... 69 Towing Past the First Point of Safety.................................................................................... 69 Towing Configurations & Line Handling .......................................................................................... 70 Straight Tow ............................................................................................................................... 70 ‘Y’ or Bridle Tow ......................................................................................................................... 70 Fixed Bridle ........................................................................................................................... 70 Adjustable Bridle ................................................................................................................... 70 Line Handling ............................................................................................................................. 71 Towlines .......................................................................................................................................... 72 Materials & Construction ............................................................................................................ 72 Materials..................................................................................................................................... 72 Polyester ............................................................................................................................... 72 Polypropylene ....................................................................................................................... 72 Construction ............................................................................................................................... 73 3 Strand................................................................................................................................. 73 Plait ....................................................................................................................................... 73 Towline Ends......................................................................................................................... 73 Towline Loading ......................................................................................................................... 75 Chafe Gear............................................................................................................................ 76 Catenary Devices....................................................................................................................... 76 Drogues...................................................................................................................................... 77 Messenger Lines........................................................................................................................ 78 Heaving Line ......................................................................................................................... 78 Throwing a Heaving Line ...................................................................................................... 78 Rescue Throw Bags.............................................................................................................. 78 Float Line .............................................................................................................................. 78 Line Throwing Device............................................................................................................79 Kicker Hook........................................................................................................................... 79 Towing Equipment Maintenance................................................................................................ 80 Towing Hazards .............................................................................................................................. 80 Accident report –tug Nautilus III ................................................................................................. 80 Analysis................................................................................................................................. 81 Findings................................................................................................................................. 82 Summary of Accident Report ..................................................................................................... 82 Towing Hazards cont....................................................................................................................... 83 Yawing........................................................................................................................................ 83 Burying the Bow ......................................................................................................................... 83 Stopping and Swamping ............................................................................................................ 84 Being Overtaken by the Tow......................................................................................................84 Sinking Tow................................................................................................................................ 84 Sea & Swell ..................................................................................................................................... 85 Towing Speed ................................................................................................................................. 86 Towing at planing speed ............................................................................................................ 86 Summary of Standard Towing Practice........................................................................................... 87 Preparation for Towing .................................................................................................................... 88 Visual Assessment - SAP – Stop Assess Plan (See Module Victim Recovery)................... 88 Questions to Ask / Information to Obtain .............................................................................. 88 Before Commencing the Tow ............................................................................................... 88 Approach and Passing the Tow Line .............................................................................................. 89 Approach .................................................................................................................................... 89 Parallel Approach.................................................................................................................. 89 45°Approach ......................................................................................................................... 90 Crossing the Bow .................................................................................................................. 90 CRV Crew Training Manual 66 January 2010 Crossing the Stern ................................................................................................................ 90 Twin Towing ............................................................................................................................... 91 Towing off a Vessel Aground .......................................................................................................... 92 Heeling a Vessel Aground.......................................................................................................... 94 Tidal Times & Heights ..................................................................................................................... 95 Sources of Tidal Information ...................................................................................................... 96 NZ Almanac Graph ............................................................................................................... 96 Generic Tidal Graph.............................................................................................................. 97 Vessel at Anchor ............................................................................................................................. 98 Towing Alongside or Barging .......................................................................................................... 99 Transferring Tow Astern