Automatic system for taking up and handling a connecting towrope between a tugboat and a towed vessel

摘要

The invention relates to an automatic system for taking up and handling a connecting towrope between a tugboat and a towed vessel. The inventive system comprises a fastening carriage which moves on guides around the deck of the tugboat. Once the towrope has been launched from the vessel to be towed, the aforementioned carriage moves along the guide until the built-in sensor detects the presence of the towrope at the upper part of the gunwale. The above-mentioned fastening carriage comprises a clamp and the tow cable or rope of the tugboat is fixed therein. According to the invention, when the system detects that the towrope has been inserted in the clamp, said clamp is closed and the carriage is released, the tugboat rope remaining connected to the towrope of the vessel. Once the aforementioned operation has been performed, the fastening carriage returns to the rest position thereof. The system operates automatically without the need for any human intervention on the deck of the tugboat and said system is remote controlled from the bridge.