Rat guards on the Oosterdam

[ShipsAreTheBest]

On 3/4/2020 at 4:29 PM, HamOp said:

I've always wondered what that noose like line is dropping from the port side.  Anyone know??

That’s a fire wire.  There would be one near the stern as well.  In the event of a fire on either the ship or the pier which would require the ship to be pulled off the dock by tugboats without the use of the ship’s engines.  Having it rigged allows for a quick connect and go!  Again, some ports require it.  It’s as much about protecting the ship as it is the dock/pier/wharf.

[HamOp]

38 minutes ago, ShipsAreTheBest said:

That’s a fire wire.  There would be one near the stern as well.  In the event of a fire on either the ship or the pier which would require the ship to be pulled off the dock by tugboats without the use of the ship’s engines.  Having it rigged allows for a quick connect and go!  Again, some ports require it.  It’s as much about protecting the ship as it is the dock/pier/wharf.

Very Cool! Thanks for the information, it makes perfect sense.