|Panama Canal line handlers work with deck fittings on the R/Y Alucia.|
|A cleat (top), open chocks,|
and bitts. From The American
Merchant Seaman's Manual.
|Working with an H-bitt on Belle of |
|Panama Canal chock|
Open chocks (with or without rollers) and Panama Canal chocks are used to change the direction of a line, making it easier to use a more conveniently-placed bitt, cleat or capstan (part of a powered winch). Similar to chocks are staples, closed loops most often seen on a ship's bulwarks. A staple is also sometimes called a bull nose, donut, or D-ring.
Confusion on Deck. Even to experienced mariners, deck hardware terminology can be inconsistent. One frequent misuse is replacing bitt with bollard, which more properly refers a similar object on land, or a pier or wharf. This confusion may stem from the use of the phrase bollard pull to refer to the pulling force a given tug or other vessel is able to exert.
Good luck. Mariners are notoriously resistant to change. And even individual ships own may have their own terms for various fixtures. One ship I worked on, which had small, single bitts at various places along its rub rail, called them "R2 units," after the little robots from the Star Wars movies. Imagine my surprise the first time I was told to tie a tender's line "off on that R2 unit."
Tug Boats, Part 3: Tug Boat Tidbits
"Heave! Ho!" To Misused Nautical Terms
Forshipbuilding.com: Equipment on the forecastle deck of a ship.
Travel & Leisure: Does Your Boat Have Bitts or Bollards?
Professional Mariner: Side bitt or shoulder bitt? Mariners invited to standardize towing terms.