🔍 Key Concepts

• relative effect of current on slow versus fast-moving vessels or objects • difference between how current acts on the tug (self-propelled, maneuverable) versus the tow/rig (large, unwieldy, low speed) • how speed of advance changes how noticeable set and drift are

💭 Think About

• Think about which part of the tug-and-tow combination is moving slowest through the water and will therefore show the most sideways drift from current. • Ask yourself: if the same current acts on both the tug and the rig, why does it appear stronger on the rig being towed? What role does speed play? • Consider which factor makes the sideways movement from current more noticeable: yawing, the towline itself, the rig’s large area, or the overall speed of the tow.

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare how current set and drift show up at low speed versus higher speed. • Decide whether the key effect is on the towline itself, the rig’s position, or the tug’s heading. • Verify which choice directly relates to how easily you can see/measure the offset caused by current on a slow-moving tow.