Question 58 TV02 - Towing Vessels - Great Lakes and Inland

The Correct Answer is A. **Explanation for A (A wire rope socket attached with zinc):** A properly attached wire rope socket (or spelter socket), typically using molten zinc (spelter) or sometimes resin, is universally recognized as the strongest and most permanent method for terminating a wire rope. When installed correctly, the socket attachment develops the *full nominal breaking strength* of the wire rope (i.e., it is $100\%$ efficient). This makes it the strongest available method for forming an eye. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **B) A thimble fastened with four or five tucks:** This option describes a standard eye splice (likely referencing the number of tucks for a complete splice) that uses a thimble to protect the rope from wear. While a well-made eye splice (without a socket) is strong, it is not $100\%$ efficient. A standard eye splice is typically rated at about $95\%$ efficiency, making it weaker than a spelter socket. * **C) Three wire rope clamps:** Wire rope clamps (or Crosby clips) are a common, field-installable method, but they are significantly weaker than both a splice and a socket. Even when installed perfectly according to standard safety practices (using the correct number of clamps, oriented correctly, and torqued properly), this termination method is typically rated at only about $80\%$ efficiency (or sometimes lower, depending on the rope material and clip type). * **D) An eye splice with four or five tucks:** This option refers to a standard hand-spliced eye (sometimes called a Flemish eye or a Liverpool splice). As noted in B, a standard eye splice is generally rated at about $95\%$ efficiency, which is strong but still less efficient and therefore weaker than a permanently attached zinc (spelter) socket (Option A).