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