Bollard

How it is used

Linesmen put the eye of the line over a shore bollard, and the crew turn up the line on the ship's bitts (paired bollards on deck). 'Bollard pull' is the pulling power of a tug, measured in tonnes.

Example sentences

1. Put the head line on the second bollard from the end of the quay.

2. This tug has a bollard pull of 60 tonnes.

Common collocations

• shore bollard
• bollard pull
• turn up on the bitts
• bitts

Related terms

• mooring lineA strong rope or wire used to tie a ship to a quay, a buoy or another ship. Lines are named by their position, such as head line, stern line, breast line and spring.
• make fastTo tie or secure a rope, a line or a tug firmly so that it holds, for example to a bollard, a cleat or the ship's side.
• quayA long stone or concrete structure along the shore of a port where ships tie up to load and discharge.
• tugA small but very powerful boat that pushes or pulls large ships, especially when they are berthing, unberthing or moving in narrow waters.

More terms: Deck Work & Seamanship

• deck
• anchor
• gangway
• windlass
• fender