Question 59 TV01 - Towing Vessels - Oceans or Near Coastal

The Correct Answer is D **Explanation for Correct Answer (D):** Option D describes a standard "fishplate" used in various heavy-duty applications, particularly in rail infrastructure, but the general design concept is consistent when describing heavy steel plates used for joining or strengthening. A fishplate, by definition and design, is a metal plate (often heavy steel) bolted to the sides of two rails or structural members to join them. While they are most famous for railway use, the term is also applied to similar joining plates. The essential design for a rail-style fishplate (and the general descriptor for this specific term in heavy engineering contexts) is typically a specific shape that maximizes strength and allows bolting—often slightly curved or triangularized for specific structural roles, with holes precisely positioned away from the very edges/corners for maximum bolt strength (inset). In the context of multiple-choice descriptions of specific engineering components, the triangular shape with holes inset from the corners is the standard descriptor for a general fishplate design outside of basic rectangular splice plates. **Explanation for Incorrect Options:** * **A) A steel plate in the shape of a flat fish:** This is an overly literal interpretation of the name "fishplate." While the name's origin might be related to its profile or shape, a technical component is defined by its function and specific engineering geometry, not merely its resemblance to an animal. * **B) A rectangular-shaped piece of heavy steel plate with four holes:** This describes a generic splice plate or connecting bracket. While fishplates often serve as splice plates, they typically have a specific, often slightly angular or flared, geometry (like a dog bone or mild triangle) rather than a simple rectangle, to better distribute stress and optimize the material used when connecting structural components. * **C) A circular piece of heavy steel with three holes forming an equilateral triangle:** This describes a specific type of flange or structural bearing plate, not a traditional fishplate, which is designed primarily for linear joining (joining two ends).