Question 5 AT01 - Assistance Towing Endorsement

The Correct Answer is D ### Why Option D ("All of the above if the vessel is so equipped") is correct: Option D is correct because A, B, and C describe standard, practical, and complementary methods used on towing vessels to manage and position the heavy towing hawser over the center of the stern, particularly when the line is not under heavy tension (slack or being adjusted). 1. **Leading it through the Norman pins (A):** Norman pins (or stern pins) are retractable or fixed posts designed to narrow the lateral movement of the tow wire, ensuring it stays centered over the stern. 2. **Holding it in the median position by a gob rope (B):** A gob rope (or centering rope) is a specialized line used to physically pull or secure the heavy towing hawser into the desired central position on the stern deck, ensuring proper alignment before towing or during slack periods. 3. **Fairleading it through a stern roller chock (C):** A stern roller chock is the final fitting on many towing vessels designed specifically to handle the heavy tow wire, ensuring it runs smoothly and centrally over the stern rail or deck edge. Since a vessel might be equipped with one, two, or all three of these systems, and all three actions achieve the goal of centering the slack hawser, D encompasses all valid possibilities. ### Why Options A, B, and C are incorrect: While options A, B, and C are all valid *actions* that can be taken to center the hawser, they are individually incorrect as the *only* correct answer because they fail to account for the full range of equipment and operational procedures available on towing vessels. * **A is incorrect:** Although Norman pins are crucial for lateral control, relying solely on them ignores other positioning tools like the gob rope (B) or the specific fairlead (C). * **B is incorrect:** While the gob rope is often essential for initial centering, it may be used in conjunction with Norman pins (A) and the roller chock (C), making B incomplete by itself. * **C is incorrect:** Leading the line through the stern roller chock establishes the path, but the use of external control devices (like Norman pins or a gob rope) may still be necessary to maintain center position when the hawser is slack and not pulling naturally.