Emergency vessel towing system and method

A method of attaching a tow line to a vessel at sea, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a vessel attachment system and a retrieving system detachably connected to the vessel attachment system in a setup position;
• wherein the vessel attachment system comprises:
• a bridle system and a hawser assembly having a hawser line, wherein a proximal end of the hawser line is operatively connected to the bridle system;
• wherein the retrieving system includes a retrieving line having a proximal end that is detachably connected to a distal end of the hawser line in the setup position;
• b) attaching the bridle system to fittings on two sides of a foredeck of the vessel with the vessel attachment system in the setup position;
• c) detachably connecting the retrieving system to the vessel attachment system by operatively connecting the proximal end of the retrieving line to the distal end of the hawser line to place the vessel attachment system in the setup position;
• d) running the bridle system through one or more chocks in the bow of the vessel to allow positioning of the distal end of the hawser line and the retrieving system in the sea;
• e) using a towing vessel to recover a distal end of the retrieving line, and pulling the retrieving system and the distal end of the hawser line onto the towing vessel;
• f) disconnecting the proximal end of the retrieving line from the distal end of the hawser line;
• g) connecting a proximal end of a tow line to the distal end of the hawser line, and securing a distal end of the tow line to the towing vessel;
• h) releasing the distal end of the hawser line and the proximal end of the tow line into the sea.