Shiphandling Mooring Unmooring Practice Questions

A. Breast lines and spring lines serve identical functions and the names are interchangeable

B. A breast line is always made of wire while a spring line is always made of synthetic rope, by definition

C. A spring line is only used when departing, never when arriving or staying alongside

D. A breast line runs roughly perpendicular to the vessel's centreline, primarily resisting movement away from or toward the berth (off/onshore movement); a spring line runs roughly parallel to the berth, primarily resisting fore-and-aft movement along the berth

A. Lines are typically let go in an order that keeps the vessel controlled throughout the process — often retaining a spring (and sometimes a breast line) until last to control the vessel's swing or to use the spring itself to assist pivoting the bow or stern off the berth, rather than releasing all lines simultaneously and losing control of the vessel's position relative to the berth

B. The order of letting go has no effect on vessel control and is purely a matter of crew convenience

C. Lines must always be let go in the exact reverse order they were made fast, with no exceptions

D. All lines should always be let go simultaneously regardless of conditions, to minimise time alongside

A. It only applies to wire ropes, never to synthetic mooring lines

B. It refers to the area where the gangway is rigged and has no connection to mooring line tension

C. It is a term for the storage area where mooring lines are coiled when not in use

D. It is the area into which a mooring line under high tension can violently recoil if it parts, capable of causing severe injury or death to anyone standing in that zone — crew must be trained to recognise and stay clear of snap-back zones whenever lines are under load, particularly synthetic lines which store more energy than wire before parting