🔍 Key Concepts

• Breast lines vs. spring lines and what each is intended to control • How the angle and length of a mooring line affect the forces it can resist • Which vessel motions are mainly controlled by breast lines (in/out) versus spring lines (fore and aft)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: What is the primary job of a breast line when a vessel is alongside a pier? Which direction of motion is it mainly resisting? • If you make a breast line longer by leading it farther away on the dock, how does that change the angle of pull and the way it holds the vessel? • Which of the answer choices matches the motion or condition that a well‑led breast line is really meant to control, rather than secondary side benefits?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the difference: breast lines run roughly at right angles to the ship and control distance off the dock, while spring lines run more fore‑and‑aft and control longitudinal movement. • Check which option describes a motion that is realistically controlled by changing the lead and length of a breast line, not just something that happens on deck. • Eliminate any choices that deal mainly with fore‑and‑aft movement (springs’ job) or crew convenience, instead of the primary holding function of a breast line.