Heaving Lines & Heaving Weights

A heaving line is a thin line whose end is weighted with a heaving weight, a heaving knot, a monkey's fist or a throw bag filled with sand. When the vessel is unable to manoeuvre close enough to the dock, a heaving line is a proven aid for handing over dock lines ashore. Establishing a ship-to-ship link or a towing connection can also be made easier by the skilful use of a heaving line. In some situations, the towing lines or mooring lines are too heavy to throw them ashore over a longer distance. Then the rope is tied to the light-weight end of the light …

… heaving line. With a little practice, it can be easily thrown to the target. Then the heavy rope attached to it is dragged over. The special skill in using a throw line is to throw it in such a way that it does not get entangled. To do this, you coil it up in turns of about half a meter to a meter in length and hang it over an outstretched hand. The weight of the cast and about ten turns are taken into the other hand and thrown in such a way that the other turns unwind without any significant resistance.