heaving line
Dock-to-ship toss
A heaving line is a light rope with a weighted end, thrown from ship to shore or between vessels to establish connection.
Once caught, it pulls across a heavier mooring line that would be too bulky to throw directly.
The weight—traditionally a monkey's fist knot—gives the line enough momentum to cover the distance: The deckhand coiled the heaving line and sent it sailing toward the dock.
- throwingPropelling by arm motion
- ropeThick twisted fibers
- coiled ropeLine wound in loops
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
monkey fist · messenger · coil · toss · deck · bollard · knot · splice · bowline · pier · nautical · sailor · stern · bow · cleat · wharf · tugboat · cast
function/purpose in mooring sequence
heaving linehawser
Thick nautical tethering rope
mooring line · tow line · spring line · anchor chain · standing rigging
heave, heaving, heaves, heaved, heaver, heavers, line, lines, lined