Question 59 TV02 - Towing Vessels - Great Lakes and Inland

The Correct Answer is C ### Explanation for why option C is correct The core regulation governing the removal of a towline from service relates to safety and maintenance schedules. A towline must be removed from service when it is determined to be unserviceable (e.g., damaged, worn out, or past its expiration date). Removing a towline from service involves taking it off the vessel or ensuring it is not used for towing. Option C, "when the vessel is underway," describes a **situation or operational status**, not a **criterion** for determining if the line is unserviceable or when it must be replaced. In fact, if the towline is deemed unserviceable based on criteria like those in A, B, or D, the vessel must typically stop towing immediately or wait until the vessel is safely moored or anchored to swap the line. Therefore, the vessel being underway is not a condition that *requires* removal from service; rather, the line must be removed based on safety and maintenance standards (A, B, D), regardless of whether the vessel is currently moving. Since the question asks for the case where the towline is **NOT** required to be removed, the operational status in C is the correct exception. ### Explanation for why options A, B, and D are incorrect Options A, B, and D are all standard, mandated criteria used by the owner or Master to determine that a towline is unserviceable or past its safe working life, thus requiring removal from service: * **A) in accordance with a replacement schedule:** This is a crucial aspect of planned maintenance. If a schedule dictates replacement, the line must be removed, even if it appears acceptable. * **B) depending on the mileage or time that the towline has been in service:** This is a typical regulatory standard for retiring equipment based on usage limits (e.g., cumulative operational hours or time in service), which directly dictates removal. * **D) when recommended by the manufacturer or an authorized classification society:** Recommendations from these authoritative bodies often set the technical limits for the safe lifespan of the equipment, and such recommendations are usually treated as mandatory safety requirements for removal.