You are on a ship that has broken down and are preparing to be taken in tow. You will use your anchor cable as part of the towline. Which statement is TRUE?

Correct Answer: Option C — The strain of the tow is taken by the riding pawl, chain stopper, and anchor windlass brake.

When using the ship's anchor cable for towing, the massive static and dynamic loads must be transferred to the vessel's strongest structural holding components. The riding pawl, chain stopper, and anchor windlass brake are specifically engineered to bear these extreme mechanical stresses safely.