A ship towing hook is the on-board device to which a tow cable is attached.
Ship towing hooks are found principally on ocean-going tugboats and other vessels performing tow functions at sea.
The towing hook is designed with a range of motion to avoid rubbing against the deck. It has built-in safety features, such as automatic release in the case of dangerous heeling or load factor. Hooks can be manual, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic.
Choice will depend on the hook's handling system (manual, electric, hydraulic, etc.), its size, deck location and type of tow cable, among other factors.
