What is the key practical trade-off between using wire rope and synthetic fibre rope for mooring lines?

A. Synthetic rope is always stronger than wire of the same diameter, with no trade-off at all

B. Wire rope is never used for mooring on modern vessels and has been entirely phased out

C. Wire is generally stronger for a given diameter and stretches less (better for holding position precisely), but is heavier, less forgiving to handle, and can develop dangerous "fishhooks" from broken strands; synthetic rope is lighter and easier to handle but stretches more (storing more energy, increasing snap-back severity) and can be more susceptible to chafe and UV degradation depending on the fibre type

D. Wire and synthetic rope have identical handling and safety characteristics with no meaningful operational difference

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