Skimming and mooring are basic but also particularly important tasks for seafarers on board. There is a risk of injury to people and damage to target facilities during the throwing process of the cable skimming head. The danger of the "Circle of Death" and "Deadly Rebound" with cables goes without saying. Do you really know how to properly skim and strap cables?

Skimming head knot

1. On the Use of Skimming Head Knots

In the past, the crew often used scrap metal or sand, or tied heavy objects such as shackles to increase the skimming head knot at the end of the cable so that the cable can be thrown farther. This type of operation has been prohibited as it increases the risk of serious personal injury to mooring workers, shore workers, tugboat or boat crew members who are hit by the object during mooring operations, or to mooring personnel on board who are hit when the mooring line is thrown back.

2、 Manual cable skimming for correct cable skimming

1. Preparation for cable skimming

Place the eye loop at the end of the rope on the left wrist and coil it clockwise into a loop with a diameter of approximately 30 centimeters. When coiling, it shall be prevented from twisting into Fried Dough Twists shape, otherwise, the rope loop will be knotted and affect the throwing. Practice has shown that the smaller the rope loop, the smoother it unfolds when thrown, provided that the left hand can grip it. After the rope loop is coiled, hold the loop with your left hand and bend it naturally and place it at your waist. With your right hand, grasp the rope at a distance of approximately 80 centimeters from the rope head and lift the rope head. Pay attention to the appropriate length of the rope section left between your hands.

2. The throwing essentials of cable skimming

After completing the preparation work, stand with your left side facing the target, with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders, and your body weight on your right leg. Lift the skimming head with your right hand and swing it back and forth slightly, driving the skimming head to rotate at a 45 ° angle from bottom to top and from front to back on the upper right side of your body. When rotating, the speed should not be too fast, otherwise the throwing direction is difficult to control and unsafe. The key to throwing distance lies in the explosive force at the moment of release.

From a practical perspective, the word 'accurate' should be emphasized, and it is not necessarily better to be too far away. Leaving too far may be greater than the important opportunity for the target to be thrown and lose the cable.

3. Timing of action

After rotating for 2 to 3 circles, when the skimming head turns to the right rear of the body, use continuous movements such as waist rotation, chest lift, and arm swing, while the body's center of gravity shifts to the left, to instantly skim the skimming head at a 45 degree angle.

When throwing out, attention should be paid to the "force point" as early as possible, and the rapid pulling effect of the arm should be added to increase the acceleration of the instantaneous "flying" of the cable head. The grasp of the 'release point' is crucial, as releasing it too early or too late can lead to excessive deviation from the target after the skimming head flies out. At the moment of release, the palm of the hand should be facing the target and the fingers should be naturally extended to prevent being pulled by the rope.

When taking action, one should shout "Here" and quickly fly out with the skimming head. On the one hand, it can play a supportive role (such as the power of a weightlifter), and on the other hand, it can warn the other party to be prepared for emergency avoidance and timely response.

The key point is to correctly grasp the timing and angle of the shot. Excessive or insufficient angle of release can affect the throwing distance, and improper timing of release can lead to a transition from the throwing target, which is the key to determining the success or failure of the cable skimming.

Equipment cable skimming

The instrument cable skimmer is suitable for transmitting towing cables over long distances, and is often fired with a cable skimmer gun. Operate according to the performance, operating procedures, and operating environment requirements of various cable skimming guns. The basic requirement is that the cable skimming posture and launching method are correct, and can be accurately projected to the selected position. The muzzle must not be aimed at people!

Cable safety precautions

1. Control the speed of cable release or retraction to prevent excessive force in an instant.

2. Always pay attention to the direction of force on the cable, estimate the magnitude of the force, and prevent excessive force from causing cable breakage.

3. When the cable is subjected to excessive force or experiences sliding or sliding, factors such as cable strength and ship inertia should be considered, and appropriate braking or loosening measures should be taken.

4. Use a drum to manually twist the cable, pay attention to the number of turns around the drum on the cable, and adjust it in a timely manner according to the force situation.

5. When adjusting the cable rope significantly, attention should be paid to the facilities, equipment, and surrounding conditions such as pipelines, gangways, and cables connected to the ship and shore.