Maritime and Rescue Applications
In the shipping industry, these balls are essential for safely establishing connections in difficult conditions like high winds or waves.
- Mooring Deployment: Used by large commercial vessels to pass heavy mooring lines to a wharf or quay.
- Man-Overboard Rescues: A buoyant heaving ball attached to a floating rope is a legal safety requirement for many watercraft to reach a person in distress.
- Ship-to-Ship Operations: Facilitates the transfer of materials or towing lines between vessels.
Common Types and Designs
Heaving balls are designed to be easy to grip and heavy enough to travel long distances without being easily diverted by wind.
- Rubber Heaving Ball: Often made of non-slip rubber and weighted (approx. 335–350g), some are water-fillable to adjust weight and prevent bouncing upon impact.
- Monkey’s Fist: A traditional nautical knot tied around a weight (like a lead ball or stone) to create a heavy throwing end. Modern versions often use a polypropylene rope woven around a stainless steel core.
- Buoyant Heaving Ball: Specifically designed for rescue, these are made of buoyant plastic or rubber to ensure they float for easy retrieval by a person in the water.
