🔍 Key Concepts

• Tow bridle parts and purpose on a tug or towing vessel • Difference between deck fittings for securing (holding) vs fittings for fairleading (changing direction) of a line • Where a tow line changes direction as it goes from the winch to the tow

💭 Think About

• Think about which fitting is specifically designed to change the direction (lead) of a line without it chafing on the rail or deck edge. • Ask yourself: which of these items does a tow line actually pass through or around to be redirected, instead of being tied off to it? • Consider which option is commonly found at the bulwark or rail to protect both the line and the vessel’s structure when towing.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option is primarily a securing point (for making lines fast) and which is for fairleading/redirecting lines. • Visualize the path of the tow bridle from the tug to the tow: what does it need to run through at the vessel’s side or stern? • Eliminate any option that is mainly associated with anchoring or chain handling, not line handling.