🔍 Key Concepts

• Purpose of a tow bridle in ocean towing • How towing forces are distributed between tug and tow • Differences between a single towline and a bridle arrangement

💭 Think About

• Visualize how you would connect a tug’s towline to the bow of a towed vessel so the tow pulls straight and can still steer. • Think about how many connection points are typically used on the bow of the tow to balance the load and reduce chafe on fittings. • Consider what happens to the tow if one side of the connection fails—how does the number of legs help maintain control?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify how many separate legs normally run from the main towline to the tow’s bow fittings in an ocean towing bridle. • Confirm whether a bridle is meant to share the load between two bow connection points or more/less. • Make sure you distinguish between the towline itself and the legs of the bridle attached to the tow.