Towline Care and Ship, Port and Tug Crew Safety (Parts 1 & 2)
Captain Henk Hensen, SWZ Maritime, April–May 2026
As tug power has increased, fewer tugs are now used per job, making towline failure more dangerous. 87 towline failures were recorded over two years, with snap-back incidents injuring crews and damaging wheelhouses across multiple documented cases. Polyester towlines store elastic energy that releases violently upon parting, while HMPE ropes snap back less violently but generate higher peak loads. Solutions include Dyneema SK78 fibres, safety glazing, and nylon stretchers, though the author proposes a mechanical peak-reducing system as the most effective long-term answer.
As a Master Mariner, former pilot, and Fellow of the Nautical Institute, Captain Hensen brings decades of hands-on expertise to advocating for safer tug operations and the protection of seafarers’ lives. He has authored numerous articles and books, including Tug Use in Port.